Elyse Singer Receives Prestigious AAUW Award

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) awarded a 2016–17 AAUW American Fellowship to Elyse Ona Singer. She is a doctoral candidate at Washington University in St. Louis in cultural anthropology.  

American Fellowships, AAUW’s oldest and largest funding program, date back to 1888, making them one of the oldest and most prestigious fellowships in the world exclusively for women. AAUW American Fellowships support women scholars who are completing doctoral dissertations, conducting postdoctoral research, or finishing research for publication.

“As an AAUW fellow I will complete my dissertation on reproductive health and contestations over citizenship, gender, and human rights in Mexico”, says Elyse.

Elyse in Guanajuato where she conducts research with Las Libras, a human rights organizationThrough her research, teaching, and publications, Elyse has specialized as a medical and legal anthropologist focusing on the intersections of human rights, the politics of reproduction, and questions of governance and citizenship, primarily in Mexico. She also holds a certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The National Science Foundation and the Wenner-Gren Foundation have also funded Elyse’s research.

“We have a long and proud history of supporting exceptional women scholars through our American Fellowship program. This year’s group includes women who are leaders in their institutions and their fields working on issues related to sexual violence, race, and other topics of importance to women and girls. They aren’t just brilliant, they are agents of change,” said Gloria Blackwell, AAUW vice president of fellowships, grants, and global programs.

For the 2016–17 academic year, AAUW awarded a total of $3.7 million to more than 230 scholars, research projects, and programs promoting education and equity for women and girls through six fellowships and grants programs. AAUW is one of the world’s leading supporters of graduate women’s education, having awarded more than $100 million in fellowships, grants, and awards to 12,000 women from more than 140 countries since 1888.

Read AAUW’s announcement about this year’s awards. To find out more about this year’s exceptional class of awardees, visit AAUW’s online directory

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) empowers women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university partners. Since AAUW’s founding in 1881, its members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. Learn more at www.aauw.org.