The Stuart L. Bernath Lecture Prize recognizes and encourages excellence in teaching and research in the field of foreign relations by younger scholars. The prize of $1,000 is awarded annually.
Eligibility
The prize is open to any person under forty-one years of age or within ten years of the receipt of the PhD (measured at the time the awardee would deliver the lecture) whose scholarly achievements represent excellence in teaching and research. Nominations may be made by any member of SHAFR or of any other established history, political science, or journalism department or organization.
Procedures
Nominations, in the form of a letter and the nominee's c.v., should be sent to the Bernath Lecture Prize Committee members. The nominating letter should discuss evidence of the nominee's excellence in teaching and research. The award is announced in January. The winner of the prize will deliver a lecture during a luncheon at the next year's annual SHAFR conference. The lecture should be comparable in style and scope to a SHAFR presidential address and should address broad issues of concern to students of American foreign policy, not the lecturer's specific research interests. The lecturer is awarded $1,000 plus up to $500 in travel expenses to the SHAFR conference, and their lecture is published in Diplomatic History.
Submission Procedures
To nominate a candidate for the lecture prize, please follow the submission guidelines outlined below.
Nomination Materials
Nomination materials include a nomination letter, letters of support, and the nominee's c.v.
Submission Destination
All nomination materials should be sent to the Bernath Lecture Prize selection committee c/o Thomas Field.
Deadline
To be considered for the 2026 award, nominations must be received by February 1, 2026.
Submit Nominations to the selection committee
C/O Thomas FieldStuart L. Bernath Lecture Prize Committee Chair
