The Peggy Jean Connor Research Award is given by CSRW annually to a USM faculty, staff, or graduate student to promote their research on gender issues. All USM faculty, staff, or graduate students are eligible to apply for this research grant award of $1000.

Winners of this award are required to give a presentation on their research in March of the following year.

The CSRW Research Award was renamed in March 2013 to honor Peggy Jean Connor, a Hattiesburg resident who played a key role in the civil rights movement in Mississippi. Ms. Connor was state executive secretary of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), treasurer of the COFO-Hattiesburg Project, and a MFDP delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1964. She also taught citizenship classes in local churches, despite the danger of violence from those opposed to desegregation and the actions of civil rights workers. She worked alongside civil rights legends Fannie Lou Hamer and fellow Hattiesburg native Victoria Gray, and was one of the few remaining "foot soldiers" of the civil rights movement.

Application Instructions

The Peggy Jean Connor Research Award of up to $1000 will be awarded to support Southern Miss faculty, staff, or graduate students pursuing research or professional development activities directly focused on issues of importance to/for/about women. Men and women may apply. Awards categories are as follows:

• Faculty and students may request money for reimbursement of research materials or travel (excludes incentives for participation) and/or conference support for presentation of research.
• Staff members may apply to attend workshops or conferences that will enhance their abilities to serve the needs of women at Southern Miss.

Applicants should apply online at Click here

Submit a proposal that follows the instructions below:

(1) Cover page with name, department, status (faculty, staff, graduate student), award type (research and/or conference), address, and USM e-mail address. Do not put identifying information on any other page.

(2) Proposal of 1000 total words or fewer. Write to a general audience (without jargon).

• Research proposals should include background, research questions and/or hypotheses, participants, methodology, and how it relates to issues of importance to/for/about women. If IRB approval is required, please specify the timeline for completing the IRB protocol.
• Requests for conference travel should include the details of the proposed project presentation. Include the name and nature of the conference, importance of the conference to your discipline, summary of your research project, and how it relates to issues of importance to/for/about women.
• Professional development proposals should include the details of the development activity, how it relates to current position, and expected benefits.
• Note: Funds are competitively awarded and done by blind review. Please provide sufficient detail to allow the committee adequate information to review your proposal.

(3) Budget and budget justification (include any current or pending support, if applicable).

----------------

DEADLINE: November 5, 2019 (by midnight)

Address any inquiries to Dr. Stacy Creel at Stacy.Creel@usm.edu or 6-5704.

Information on previous years' awards are linked below: