Become an Emerging Scholar

applications due 28 September 2025

We are now accepting applications for the Class of 2026-2028 ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designees. Recipients will be announced as 2026-2028 ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designees (that is, from the 2026 ACPA Convention through the 2028 ACPA Convention) and each will receive a research grant from ACPA. The Emerging Scholar-Designees who have fulfilled their research and scholarly leadership commitments – as specified in their applications – by the end of their two-year term will be designated as ACPA Emerging Scholars. Requests for a one-year unfunded extension or renegotiation of the specified leadership commitments by Emerging Scholar-Designees will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Award Eligibility

• Newly selected Emerging Scholar-Designees must participate at the 2026 convention in a meeting with the Senior Scholars; meetings are traditionally held the day prior to and day of the convention opening session. In 2026 (Baltimore, MD) those dates are Sunday, March 29 and Monday, March 30. Times are subject to change depending on the format of the 2026 convention.
• All emerging scholar-designees must register for the convention.
• Applicants must be an ACPA member.
• Applicants must not have received tenure.
• Applications must have a demonstrated record of scholarly productivity related to student affairs or college students.

Application Process

Applicants for 2026-2028 ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designee must submit the following materials in a single PDF document saved as “Emerging Scholars Application – Last Name” by 11:59 pm (EST) on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

1. Letter of interest that includes the following:

• An explanation of how your scholarly interests and trajectory align with those found in ACPA’s A Bold Vision Forward: A Framework for the Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization. 
• A description of  your in-progress or completed work that demonstrates your scholarly activity. Address the potential impacts or significance of your work to the field of student affairs.
• A description of your current and past involvement with ACPA, including any leadership positions you have held.
• A statement of your willingness to complete at least two proposed scholarly leadership commitments (see below) during the Emerging Scholars Program two-year period. Please indicate which opportunities you would choose and why.
  • Co-coordinate (with a current Senior Scholar or another Emerging Scholar) an ACPA convention session or pre- convention session designed to advance the goals SIRJD.
  • If selected, serve as designated Scholar-in-Residence (minimum one-year term) for an ACPA Commission, Coalition, or other formally constituted group.
  • Submit a scholarly piece to Developments.
  • Other (to be proposed by the candidate) that will advance ACPA’s mission, vision, values, or Strategic Imperative and is consistent with the applicant’s scholarly agenda. Applicants should describe the proposed commitment in sufficient detail to foster understanding of its content and scope during the ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designee review and selection processes.
• Tell us about the opportunities you have had for scholarly support in your doctoral program and your career to date and any challenges to your scholarly productivity (e.g., uncompensated administrative responsibilities, teaching load, access to mentoring, internal grant opportunities, etc.).

2. Current CV

3. Research project proposal Research project proposal of no more than three single-spaced pages, excluding cover page and reference list. The proposed research project should focus on college students and/or the student affairs profession and be an original scholarly contribution; while co-authorship is acceptable, the applicant should be the primary investigator. Editing of others’ work (e.g., proposing an edited book) does not meet the expectations for the Emerging Scholar research project. Proposal should include the following items:

• A description of the proposed research project (including description of methodology and methods), how the study advances the applicant’s broader research agenda, and how the research supports the Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization.
• A proposed time frame (ordinarily, no longer than the designee’s two-year term as ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designee).
• A brief project budget. Funds may be used for operating expenses including travel for data collection or dissemination. Funds may not be used to purchase equipment or to offset or supplement the designee’s salary or solely to cover conference travel. ACPA funding may not be used to cover F&A/indirect costs.
• An explanation of how the proposed research project, within the context of the applicant’s overall research agenda, advances ACPA’s mission, vision, and values as well as ACPA’s Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization (SIRJD).
• A commitment to present research findings at a minimum of one ACPA convention during the designee’s two-year term (i.e., 2026 Emerging Scholar-Designees must present at either the 2027 or the 2028 convention as part of the sponsored Emerging Scholar research sessions).

Committments

In addition to completing the scholarly leadership commitments and research project noted in your application, the emerging scholars will meet with the senior scholars bi-monthly. Emerging scholars are expected to attend the ACPA Convention for the duration of their time as Emerging Scholar Designees. The relationship between emerging and senior scholars is envisioned as reciprocal.

Please direct any questions about applications for the Emerging Scholars program to Ellen Broido, ebroido@bgsu.edu