The Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) is inviting nominations for the Gail P. Kelly Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation, an annual award recognizing exceptional doctoral research addressing social justice and equity in international contexts.
Established in honor of distinguished comparative educator Gail P. Kelly and her significant contributions to CIES, the award celebrates doctoral research demonstrating academic excellence, originality and strong methodological, theoretical and empirical foundations.
The award is particularly focused on dissertations examining social justice and equity issues across international settings. Eligible research may address topics including gender, race, class, ethnicity and nationality, among other related issues.
The deadline for nominations is 25 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
About the Gail P. Kelly Award
The Gail P. Kelly Award recognizes an outstanding Ph.D. or Ed.D. dissertation that makes a meaningful scholarly contribution to the understanding of social justice and equity in international education.
Beyond academic quality, nominated dissertations are expected to reflect the broader scholarly purpose of CIES. This includes research that is comparative, cross-cultural, interdisciplinary and international in scope.
The research should contribute to the interpretation of educational developments within their broader and interconnected political, economic and social contexts.
The award therefore provides recognition for doctoral researchers whose work combines rigorous scholarship with important questions concerning inequality, justice and equity in education.
Eligibility Requirements
The award is open to Ph.D. and Ed.D. dissertations that meet specific eligibility requirements.
A dissertation must be:
• Written in English
• Completed at an accredited institution of higher education
• Focused on social justice and equity issues in an international context
• Academically excellent, original and methodologically rigorous
• Relevant to comparative, cross-cultural, interdisciplinary and international education
To qualify for the current award cycle, the dissertation’s final submission to the relevant university department, graduate school or other authorized university body must have occurred between July 2025 and August 2026.
The final copy must have been approved by the appropriate university or academic committee and formally submitted within this eligibility period.
Areas of Research
The Gail P. Kelly Award is designed for doctoral research addressing social justice and equity within international settings.
Relevant themes can include, but are not limited to:
• Gender
• Race
• Class
• Ethnicity
• Nationality
• Educational inequality
• Social justice
• Equity in international education
Eligible research should demonstrate how education intersects with wider social, political and economic structures.
CIES particularly values research that contributes to a comparative and interdisciplinary understanding of educational developments rather than examining educational issues in isolation.
Who Can Nominate?
Any CIES member in good standing may nominate an eligible dissertation.
Importantly, self-nominations are welcome, meaning dissertation authors who are CIES members in good standing may nominate their own work for consideration.
Nominators should ensure that the submitted materials clearly establish the dissertation’s eligibility, academic merit and relevance to the award’s objectives.
Required Nomination Materials
Each nomination must contain several important documents.
The nomination package should include:
• A 20–25-page, double-spaced summary describing the dissertation project and its findings
• Verification of the date on which the final dissertation was submitted to the university, graduate school, department or other responsible academic body
• A cover letter requesting consideration for the Gail P. Kelly Award
• A supporting statement in the cover letter explaining the dissertation’s merits or unique qualities
The dissertation summary should provide a substantive overview of the research, methodology, findings and scholarly contribution. It should also make clear how the work addresses social justice and equity in an international context.
Finalist Selection
Following the initial nomination process, selected finalists will be asked to submit their full dissertations for further evaluation.
This additional stage allows the award committee to assess the complete research work and examine its academic quality, originality, methodological rigor and contribution to the field.
Applicants and nominators should therefore retain the complete final version of the dissertation and ensure that it is available if requested during the finalist stage.
Award Benefits
The recipient of the Gail P. Kelly Award will receive a $1,000 USD monetary award.
The award recipient will also be formally honored at the upcoming CIES Annual Meeting, providing an opportunity for the researcher to receive recognition from the comparative and international education community.
In addition, the award recipient will deliver a brief presentation on the outstanding dissertation at the Annual Meeting.
The recognition therefore combines financial support, academic visibility and an opportunity to share significant doctoral research with an international scholarly audience.
Why the Award Matters
The Gail P. Kelly Award highlights the importance of rigorous doctoral research addressing inequality, justice and equity in education around the world.
By recognizing dissertations that combine academic excellence with international, comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives, the award encourages emerging scholars to investigate the complex relationships between education and broader social conditions.
It also honors Gail P. Kelly’s legacy by supporting scholarship that contributes to a deeper understanding of educational systems and their social, political and economic contexts.
How to Apply
All nomination materials must be compiled and submitted as a single attachment.
Completed nominations must be emailed to oed@cies.us.by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 25 September 2026.
Questions or requests for additional information about the award or nomination process can also be directed to the same email address.
Prospective nominators and eligible doctoral researchers should ensure that the dissertation meets the specified completion period and that all required documentation is included before submission.
The CIES Gail P. Kelly Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation offers an important opportunity for doctoral researchers to gain recognition for rigorous and original scholarship addressing social justice and equity in international education.
