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Yamamoto-Scheffelin Dissertation Award

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Each year, one recent School of Public Policy PhD graduate receives the Yamamoto-Scheffelin Dissertation Award for their dissertation's international policy relevance and exceptional contribution to the advancement of scholarly knowledge.

Past winners have tackled a range of the world's most intractable problems from nuclear proliferation to climate change.


2023 Yamamoto-Scheffelin Dissertation Award Winner

Lindsay Rand awarded 2023 prize for "A Socio-Technical Evaluation of Quantum Sensing Implications for Nuclear Deterrence.”

Learn more about Lindsay Rand

2022 Yamamoto-Scheffelin Dissertation Award Winner

Dr. Chris Hickey won the Yamamoto-Scheffelin award for his dissertation, “Assessing Motives for Russian Federation Use and Non-use of Force: An Approach to Improve the Strategic Planning and Policy of the United States.” 

Learn More About Chris Hickey

About the Yamamoto-Scheffelin Endowment for Dissertation Research

The Yamamoto-Scheffelin Dissertation Award is underwritten by the Yamamoto-Scheffelin Endowment for Dissertation Research, which was established in March 2012 by Marianna Yamamoto, Ph.D. '07 and Cliff Yamamoto in honor of the Japanese-Americans who served their country during World War II, in particular three brothers from Hawaii: Henry Chagami, Richard Chagami and Ronald Chagami. Spendable income from the Yamamoto-Scheffelin Endowment for Dissertation Research provides support for dissertation research by doctoral candidates in the School of Public Policy.

Learn more about Marianna M. Yamamoto

Donate to the Yamamoto-Scheffelin Endowment

Yamamoto-Scheffelin Dissertation Award Past Recipients

Davin O'Reagan headshot

Dissertation title: Diffident Dissident: How Civil Society Influences Armed Intrastate Conflict and Political Violence

Check out an article for War on the Rocks based on O'Regan's dissertation research

Learn more about Davin O'Regan

Zafar Imran headshot

Dissertation title: Climate Change and Political Contention: A  Mechanism Based Framework

Check out a CISSM policy brief based on Imran's dissertation  research

Learn more about Zafar Imran

Naoko Aoki

Dissertation title: The Domestic Politics of Implementation: A Case Study of U.S. Denuclearization Agreements with North Korea 

Check out a CISSM working paper based on Aoki's dissertation

Learn more about Naoko Aoki

Nancy Hayden headshot

Dissertation title: Balancing Belligerents or Feeding the Beast: Transforming Conflict Traps

Check out a CISSM policy brief based on Hayden's dissertation research

Learn more about Nancy Hayden

Charles Harry

Dissertation title: The Effect of Economic Condition on Civil Unrest: New Insights from Agent Based Modeling

Check out a CISSM policy brief based on Harry's dissertation research

Learn more about Charles Harry