Dissertation.com Excellence Award and Kindle Reader Prize

The Dissertation.com Excellence Award is selected by the editors of Dissertation.com and BrownWalker Press based on the work's originality, usefulness, writing style, presentation, and potential public interest. The annual winner, recognized on July 1st of each year, will receive a publishing offer from our sister imprint, BrownWalker Press (if not already available in print), and a new Amazon Kindle eBook Reader.

Submit the application for consideration. Award nominations for the current year will be accepted until June 1st. Nominees/applicants will be contacted to submit the text of their dissertation for review to be considered for the award. Nomination/Application is committment free. Acceptance of publication offer to annual award winner is optional.

2012

Winner

Danielle Rowell

University at Albany, SUNY (Albany, NY, USA)

The Power of Ideas

A Political Social-Psychological Theory of Democracy, Political Development and Political Communication

Dr. Danielle Rowell received her B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in political science specializing in comparative politics and international relations from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy -- University at Albany, SUNY. Although Dr. Rowell’s education has been predominantly housed within the discipline of political science, she took a decidedly interdisciplinary approach to her culturally driven doctoral research that spans political science, public policy, public administration, sociology, psychology and media communication.

Dr. Rowell holds multiple professional development certifications specializing in emergency management and homeland security from the Department of Defense, Defense Security Academy/IOSS; Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, Emergency Management Institute; and the U.S. Department of Justice/SLED initiative.

In addition to her fifteen years of administrative and managerial experience in the private, public, nonprofit and academic sectors, Dr. Rowell also possesses thirteen years of post-secondary curriculum design, delivery and assessment experience within traditional and virtual learning environments.

Finalists

Mansi M. Kasliwal

California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA, USA)

Bridging the Gap: Elusive Explosions in the Local U...

Jeffrey J. ...

Fielding Graduate University (Santa Barbara, CA, USA)

The Coordinated Management of a Culturally Diffused ...

Maria Teodora Ping

Technische Universitat Dortmund (Dortmund, Germany)

Dialogic Oriented Shared Book Reading Practices for ...

2011

Winner

Gillian Towler Mehta

University of Liverpool (Liverpool, UK)

European Zoroastrian Attitudes to Their Purity Laws

Dr. Gillian Towler Mehta holds a Bsc(honors) degree in Sociology awarded by the University of Hatfield, UK. She also holds an Masters of Arts in Sociology awarded in the USA by Bryn Mawr College. During her residence outside the UK she collaborated with Professor J. R. Hinnells, the foremost authority on the Modern Zoroastrian Diaspora in the world, and analysed the data they had gathered from the Zoroastrian surveys. Upon returning permanently to the UK she was awarded a Ph.D. by the University of Liverpool in Philosophy.

Finalists

Michael W. Busch

California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA, USA)

Shapes and Spins of Near-Earth Asteroids

Juan Carlos Castillo

Humboldt Universität (Berlin, Germany)

The Legitimacy of Economic Inequality: An Empirical...

Craig Nevin

University of Cape Town (Cape Town, South Africa)

Initiation and Control of Gait from First Principles

2010

Winner

James W. Penn, Jr.

University of Florida (Gainesville, FL, USA)

Another Boom for Amazonia?

Examining the Socioeconomic and Environmental Implications of the New Camu Camu Industry in Peru

James Walter Penn, Jr. was born in February 1960, in Peoria, Illinois. His parents planted gardens and trees, and were active volunteers in community and civic affairs. For as long as he can remember, Jim was interested in these activities. The family camped frequently, and were consistent supporters of conservation efforts. Jim graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in Decatur Illinois in May of 1978. He graduated with a B.A. in political science from the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1983. He then embarked on several years of volunteer conservation and social work in Latin America, mostly in Peru, where he is still active in these activities. Jim received an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida in 1999.

Finalists

Stefan Benus

New York University (New York, NY)

Dynamics and Transparency in Vowel Harmony

Gunnar J. Clausen

University of Cologne Cologne, Germany

Price Sensitivity for Electronic Entertainment: Det...

Steven Arthur Dawson

University of California at Berkeley

Lyman Alpha Emitting Galaxies at High Redshift: Dir...