What Annual Meeting Travel Grant Recipients Say about the Program

“This is an excellent program and a great way to use the AAR's money. We don't talk enough about how younger scholars are being slowly disenfranchised due to receding graduate stipends and adjunct wages. But it's real and dangerous to the overall health of the academy. For someone like me with with low income and zero savings, a program like this makes attending the national conference possible.” – Justin Doran, University of Texas, Austin
 

“Receiving the travel grant allowed me to fully participate in the Annual meeting without the anxiety of worrying about how I would make up the cost of the meeting out of my family's budget. As a result of attending and participating in the AAR's annual meeting in Atlanta, I have secured a publication in a leading theological journal based on my paper presentation, and extended my professional network to include leading scholars in the areas of religion and globalization, religion and politics, and theological ethnography.” – Christopher Duncanson-Hales, University of Sudbury at Laurentian University
 

“The travel grant proved crucial to making this AAR possible for me financially. Being at the end of my PhD, I no longer receive a scholarship from my institution, which means that I would not have been able to afford the flights and accommodation costs of the conference had it not been for the generosity of the AAR. It allowed for me to deliver my paper, which was a significant scholarly endeavor, especially because it generated interesting conversation and discussions of possible publications with top scholars in the field after my session. As for career opportunities, it afforded me the opportunity to meet with potential employers, and, as mentioned above, made it possible for me to interview for a job for which I have now been shortlisted. Generally, it secured my participation in the AAR and made for an enjoyable and beneficial experience on a personal, professional, and scholarly level.” – Javier Garcia, University of Cambridge
 

“Attending the AAR is a joy for me, as an early career scholar in religion. The AAR travel grant opportunity eased the financial burden significantly. I feel more like a well-nourished scholar, enjoying the ripe fruits of scholarship, fellowship, and friendship. Thank you, AAR!” – Sarah Robinson, Santa Clara University