81st Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference
Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 7, 2024
In-Person at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL

All Panels, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups will Feature a Hybrid Format (for In-Person or Virtual Participation). Poster Sessions will be In-Person Only.

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Graduate Student Travel Scholarships

Thank you for your interest in a Graduate Student Travel Scholarship. Applications for the 2024 MPSA Annual Conference scholarship program will open this fall. Please check back later for more information.

The MPSA provides 12 different $500 travel scholarships (four Harrell Rodgers Graduate Student Travel Scholarships, one John Bohte Memorial Graduate Student Travel Scholarship, one Luis R. Fraga Graduate Student Travel Scholarship, one Pi Sigma Alpha Graduate Student Travel Scholarship, one Valerie Martinez-Ebers Diversity Travel Scholarship, two MPSA Status Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Scholarships, and two MPSA Status Committee on Gender and Sexual Minorities Scholarships) for graduate students in a doctoral program who are members, presenting at the annual conference, and have not been previous recipients of a Graduate Student Travel Scholarship (other qualifications may vary based on each individual scholarship – please see the requirements below). Graduate Student Travel Scholarships are applicable to in-person conference participation only. Recipients will receive their travel fund scholarship in-person at the conference. Funds are NOT dispersed prior to the conference. Please do not delay registering for the conference until you hear the status of your scholarship application. You do not want to delay registering as you may miss out on the best conference pricing.

Harrell Rogers Graduate Student Travel Scholarship started with funding from the Policy Studies Organization (PSO) in 2004, and expanded by the MPSA Council in 2010. This program provides $500 in travel funding for doctoral-level graduate students who are members of the MPSA to attend the MPSA Conference. The scholarship is named for Harrell Rodgers, who has organized panels at the MPSA conference on behalf of the PSO for many years. Historically only 4% of the applications have received support.

John Bohte Memorial Graduate Student Travel Scholarship was established to fund travel for graduate students presenting research in the subfield of public policy/public administration. This program provides $500 in travel funding for graduate students. The scholarship is named in honor of John Bohte, who was an active scholar in the field of public policy/public administration and a popular teacher and mentor to undergraduate and graduate students alike.

The Luis R. Fraga Graduate Student Travel Scholarship seeks to support PhD students from underserved populations to attend the MPSA annual conference.

The Pi Sigma Alpha Graduate Student Travel Scholarship was established in 2022. Sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha, this $500 scholarship provides travel funding for doctoral-level graduate students who are members of the MPSA to attend the MPSA Conference. Pi Sigma Alpha, also known as the National Political Science Honor Society, brings students together to foster critical thinking and an exchange of ideas on issues of government, public affairs, international studies, political philosophy, public policy, and activism. Learn more about the honor society and its mission, vision and purpose, as well as how to join here.

The Valerie Martinez-Ebers Diversity Travel Scholarship. This was established in 2023 to honor the work of Dr. Valerie Martinez-Ebers, whose research specializes in education policy, Latino/a politics, and women in politics. This program provides $500 in travel funding for doctoral-level graduate students who are presenting at the annual conference, with an awarding preference to students with a Latino/a or other diverse background.

The MPSA Status Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Travel Scholarship awards travel funding to a select group of qualifying members of the MPSA to attend and present at the MPSA Annual Conference.

The MPSA Status Committee on Gender and Sexual Minorities Travel Scholarship awards travel funding to a select group of qualifying members of the MPSA to attend and present the MPSA Annual Conference.

Please note: if you are awarded a Graduate Student Travel Scholarship, you are not eligible to receive a Conference Fee Waiver, and vice versa.

Graduate Student Travel Scholarship Committee

Thank you to the following professionals for their service on the Graduate Student Travel Scholarship Committee for the 2023 MPSA Annual Conference:

Chair: Dr. Brian Lai, University of Iowa

Committee Members: Dr. Meina Cai, University of Connecticut; Dr. Songying Fang, Rice University; Dr. Samantha Vortherms, University of California; Dr. Matthew Wright, University of British Columbia.

If you would like to serve on the Graduate Student Travel Scholarship Committee, please indicate your interest on this form.

Additional Conference Fee Waivers and Childcare Scholarships

The MPSA offers additional financial assistance opportunities through Conference Registration Fee Waivers and Conference Childcare Scholarships.