AAHHE Outstanding Dissertation Competition (ODC)

The 2025 ODC cycle is now closed. The 2026 ODC Call for Applications will open in April 2025.

The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) is proud to sponsor their annual Outstanding Dissertation Competition (ODC). AAHHE recognizes the significant need to increase the number of Hispanics receiving doctoral degrees, entering higher education on the tenure track, and eventually serving in faculty leadership and administrative roles.

Although the Hispanic population is the fastest growing population in the country, Hispanics are underrepresented in higher education in all areas: undergraduate, graduate, faculty and administration. Gains are being seen every year in the number of doctoral degrees conferred to Hispanics and in the number in full-time faculty positions, but the percentages are not climbing commensurate with the population's growth.

By sponsoring the ODC, AAHHE spotlights top doctoral students and, at the same time, are showcase excellence in Hispanic student performance at the doctoral level. The ODC aims to a) encourage greater numbers of Hispanic students to enter and successfully complete doctoral programs and b) enhance the quality of the dissertations they write.

2025 AAHHE-ETS Outstanding Dissertation Competition

The competition is open to any Latinx who has completed a dissertation as part of a doctoral degree program in the social sciences and education, broadly defined, and/or anyone whose dissertation research conducted as part of a doctoral degree program in the social sciences focuses on the Latinx community. Additionally, the dissertation needs to have been completed between December 2022 and September 6, 2024. 

All applicants are strongly encouraged to be AAHHE members to apply. The call for proposals for the 2025 AAHHE Outstanding Dissertation Competition opens on June 6, 2024. The deadline for submission of a Dissertation Summary via the AAHHE submission portal is September 6, 2024. 

How to Apply?

Refer to the 2025 AAHHE & ETS Outstanding Dissertation Competition Guidelines prior to applying. The guidelines will provide you with information on eligibility, dates and deadlines, preparation of dissertation summary, evaluation criteria and procedure, awards and recognition.

Past Recipients

Review the 2024 ODC Award Recipients and a history of previous 2023 - 2008 ODC winners.

Additional Information

Winners are required to present their dissertation at the annual AAHHE Conference and give a dissertation presentation via webinar for the AAHHE membership following the conference in the months of April, May, or June.

If you have any questions about the competition, please contact: AAHHE ODC Chair Dr. Maria Oropeza Fujimoto at [email protected] or [email protected].

Download a copy of the 2025 AAHHE & ETS Outstanding Dissertation Competition Brochure (PDF)
Download a copy of the 2025 AAHHE & ETS Outstanding Dissertation Competition Guidelines (PDF)
Download a copy of the 2025 AAHHE & ETS Outstanding Dissertation Competition Title Page (PDF)