Two doctoral students from the School of Public Policy, Emily Dobson and Kasey Vangelov, have been awarded the Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year. This prestigious fellowship, granted by the UMD Graduate School, provides full financial support for one semester, including a $15,000 stipend, a candidacy tuition award and coverage of mandatory fees.
The fellowship is designed to support outstanding doctoral students in the final stages of their dissertation research and writing. By alleviating financial pressures, the fellowship allows recipients to focus on producing impactful research.
Expressing her gratitude for the award, Dobson stated, “It is a tremendous honor to be awarded an Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship. The fellowship grants me the time and resources to publish an ambitious dissertation poised to have a significant impact on both scholarship and policy.”
Dobson’s research explores the question, “How should the U.S. federal government support children’s well-being?” Her dissertation employs interdisciplinary methods from philosophy, history, political science, economics and sociology to investigate various facets of this question in the context of the Child Tax Credit.
Vangelov, whose research investigates the socioeconomic consequences of deindustrialization, also shared her appreciation. “I’m incredibly honored to receive the Wylie fellowship to support my dissertation research, ‘Essays on Deindustrialization and Despair.’ This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support and encouragement of my mentors.”
Vangelov’s dissertation applies spatial econometric methods to analyze the relationship between deindustrialization—automation, the transition to a service-based economy, and job loss—and deaths of despair, which include overdose, alcohol-related deaths and suicide.
By receiving this award, Dobson and Vangelov join a distinguished group of scholars who reflect the University of Maryland’s commitment to supporting rigorous academic inquiry and fostering research that contributes to broader intellectual and societal discussions.