The Kenneth Sherrill Award for Emerging Scholars is given for the best doctoral dissertation on lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBTQ+) topics in political science. The purpose is to encourage empirical work on LGBTQ+ topics by graduate students and to broaden the recognition of this work within political science.

Eligible dissertations must have been successfully defended within the past two calendar years. Previous recipients of the Kenneth Sherrill Prize for the best dissertation proposal on LGBTQ+ topics are eligible. Nominees do not have to be members of APSA, affiliated with an institution in the United States, or an American citizen in order to be considered for the Sherrill Award.

Applications include:

• A copy of the nominee’s dissertation.
• A letter from the chair of the nominee’s dissertation committee verifying successful defense of the dissertation within the past two years. 

The nominator must be from the same department that granted the nominee their PhD, or from the nominee’s current institution or employer. Self-nominations are also accepted.

About the 2026 Winner:

Dakota Strode, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Dr. Strode received his PhD from American University. His research in American politics focuses on political behavior, campaigns and elections, political communication, and LGBTQ politics. Specifically, he examines the role the news media play in the electoral process for LGBTQ candidates, including how the news media influence the political ambition of LGBTQ people, how the news media cover LGBTQ candidates, how LGBTQ candidates strategize about their self-presentation to influence the type of coverage that they receive, and how the coverage of LGBTQ candidates influences voter evaluations of LGBTQ candidates. Additionally, he has published research about the political attitudes and behaviors of LGBTQ people and the attitudes of the public toward LGBTQ people.