Pre-Dissertation Initiative
The Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) Pre-Dissertation Initiative provides support each year for a cohort of ten doctoral students who have completed the first year of doctoral studies. The goal of the Initiative is to support dissertation and career development in gerontological social work research and education. Recipients will receive more than ten hours of programming delivered by nationally recognized experts in gerontological social work research and teaching designed to prepare participants for an academic career in gerontological social work. The program is delivered each year at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) conference. Awardees are selected by the AGESW Pre-Dissertation Advisory Council.
Click here to see the 2011 Awardees.
Project Co-Directors
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Program Outcomes
Upon completion of participation in the Gerontological Social Work Pre-Dissertation Initiative, participants will:
- Prepare an application for financial support of their dissertation research in gerontology.
- Develop a career plan that integrates their proposed teaching-scholarship.
- Develop a course syllabus related to gerontological social work.
Participant Benefits
- $500 stipend to attend pre-conference activities at the GSA Annual Meeting
- One-year membership to AGESW
- Registration for the GSA Annual Meeting
- One-year membership to GSA
- Ongoing mentoring from a member of AGESW
- Participation in a web-based ‘Booster-Session’
Program Eligibility
- Applicant must be enrolled in a doctoral program (full or part time) in the United States
- Applicant must be at the Pre-Dissertation stage, and not submitted or defended the dissertation proposal
- Applicant must secure the sponsorship of a faculty member-commitment from a faculty member that she/he has reviewed and supports the application and can attest to the applicant’s qualifications and interest in gerontological social work research and/or education
- Applicant must secure institutional support-commitment from the Dean, Director or program administrator that the institution will support the applicant with a matching stipend ($500)
- Applicant must be a United States citizen or have permanent resident or resident alien status
- Multiple applicants from a given doctoral program may be selected
The Application
- Cover Sheet (click here for form)
- Applicant’s Curriculum Vita
- A two-page single-spaced personal statement indicating applicant’s interest in gerontological social work research or education and career goals
- A letter of support from an institutional faculty sponsor
- A letter confirming institutional support from program director for attending Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
By May 1, 2012, applications may be submitted as one PDF file via email to Joyce McDaniel at joyce@agesw.org.
Selection Process
The Award will be determined by the AGESW Advisory Council based on the following criteria:
- Personal Statement 60%
- Letter of Support 20%
- Institutional Support 20%
Program
Full-day Pre-Conference Intensive at Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting:
- Using Secondary Data for a dissertation topic in gerontology
- Quantitative-Qualitative-Mixed Method Research Proposals
- Writing for publication
- The role of teaching in your academic career
- Seeking Funding for Gerontological Dissertations
Daily Eye-Opener sessions
- Day 1 Working with mentors
- Day 2 Building your plan for funding support
- Day 3 Next Steps
Follow-up Web-based session
- Review/Critique participants funding proposal
- Review participants career plan
- Review status of participants mentoring program
Questions
Contact Dr. Carmen Morano at cmorano@hunter.cuny.edu