Dr. Mabel S. Spencer Award for Excellence in Graduate Achievement

The Spencer Award, established by the daughters of Dr. Mabel S. Spencer, honors the memory and outstanding professional achievements of Dr. Spencer. The award is a full-time fellowship and carries an annual stipend of $20,000 and provides candidacy tuition remission (if not covered by other tuition remission).

Dr. Spencer taught at the University of Maryland from 1948 to 1968. Her energy, dynamic personality, and commitment to bringing about positive change made her a leader in the University community. Dedicated to programs and activities that advanced the interests of women at the University, Dr. Spencer was also known for her extraordinary ability to communicate with and provide assistance to her students, especially those from underrepresented minorities and from foreign countries.

A program may nominate ONE candidate for the Mabel S. Spencer Award. Nominations of women are especially encouraged for this award.

Nomination Deadline: noon on Wednesday, March 3, 2027.

*Eligible students must contact their department for the department’s internal deadline.

Eligibility Information
A nominee must:

• Be enrolled in a graduate degree program at the University of Maryland;
• Be a PhD candidate by August 1, 2027;
• Exemplify the spirit of interdisciplinary focus in research; and
• Submit a personal statement of 1,000-1,500 words describing academic experiences, accomplishments, challenges overcome, goals for the immediate post-doctoral period, and long term career aspirations. This statement should be written for a non-specialist audience.

Nomination Instructions
Nomination packets must include:

1. A completed nomination cover sheet;
2. A personal statement of 1,000-1,500 words describing academic experiences, accomplishments, challenges overcome, goals for the immediate post-doctoral period, and long term career aspirations. This statement should be written for a non-specialist audience.
3. The student’s curriculum vitae (2 page limit);
4. Recommendation letter from the dissertation supervisor (1-2 pages);
5. Recommendation letter from an additional faculty member who has worked closely with the nominee in some capacity (1-2 pages);

Each program may nominate one candidate. Nominations of women are especially encouraged for this award.

Nomination packets must be submitted through the Graduate School Awards Portal by the specified deadline.

Contact Information: Please direct questions to Ms. Robyn Kotzker, Program Director for Office of Funding Opportunities, at 301-405-0281 or rkotzker@umd.edu.

Award Recipients

2026       Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova, Human Development
2025       Melodie Jackson, American Studies
2024       Makeda Walelo, Health Services Research
2023       Josanne Fiona Francis, Music Education
2022       Grace Henry, Biochemistry
2021       Aitalohi Amaize, Health Policy Management
2020       Sabrina Gonzalez, History
2019       Ashley Minner, American Studies
2018       Tsega Solomon, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2017       Kelsey Gray, Bioengineering
2016       Allissa Richardson, Journalism
2015       Rachel Walker, History
2014       Erica Doxzen Roberts, Behavioral and Community Health
2013       Anna Windham, History
2012       Jocelyn Smith, Family Science
2011       Sunyoung Lee, Kinesiology
2010       Fatemeh Hosseini, History
2009       Genevieve Martinez Garcia, School of Public Health
2008       Oluyomi Okunola, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2007       Tagide de Carvalho, Biology
2006       Erin Hoerl Leone, Animal and Avian Sciences