About the Mary C. Turpie Prize

Please note: The Mary C. Turpie is only awarded in even-numbered years. The next year it will be awarded is 2026.

The Mary C. Turpie Prize, established in 1993, is given to the candidate who has demonstrated outstanding abilities and achievement in American studies teaching, advising, and program development at the local or regional level. Recipients of the award receive lifetime membership in the association. The award is announced at the annual meeting of the American Studies Association.

This award honors Mary C. Turpie, an early pioneer in American studies scholarship. Turpie was a long-time faculty member in the American Studies department at the University of Minnesota where she contributed to the development of American studies pedagogy, departments, and scholars through intensive mentorship and advising. She advised over a hundred students at any given time while presiding over dozens of dissertation projects.

Nomination deadline: June 30, 2026 by 11:59 pm PT

Eligibility Requirements

Current ASA members who have demonstrated ability and achievement in American studies teaching, advising, and program development at the local or regional level.

Anyone can submit a nomination on an ASA member's behalf. Individuals can also apply, or self-nominate. 

Nomination Instructions

Please compile the following into a single PDF document no longer than 50 pages. These materials should be representative, rather than exhaustive. Additionally, the committee strongly encourages that longer documents (e.g., program reviews) be excerpted or summarized. 

  1. A statement describing the nominee's achievements in developing degree programs, curricula, and (or) academic or public forums; the intellectual orientation of this programming (e.g., the critical frameworks or priorities that informed the design); the contribution of this programming to the home institution, as well as to local and regional publics; and (if relevant) its contribution to the field of American studies at the national or international levels. This statement might also address the contributions of the nominee's research to the field of American studies, as well as the bearing of the research on the teaching and programmatic work.
  2. Two or three American studies (or otherwise relevant) syllabi.
  3. Supporting letters from collaborators, colleagues, and mentored students. These letters can be individually authored, but nominators might consider soliciting a smaller set of collectively authored letters with multiple signatories.
  4. A list of URLs to relevant websites (if applicable).

Please submit all nomination details and the PDF file of required materials by 11:59 pm (PT) on June 30, 2026. A link will be provided closer to the deadline.

Questions? Please e-mail asastaff@theasa.net. 

Past Winners 1994-2024

  • 2024: Sarah Gualtieri, University of Southern California
  • 2022: Christine Hong, University of California, Santa Cruz
  • 2021: No selection
  • 2020: No selection
  • 2019: Patrick McGreevy, American University of Beirut
  • 2018: Matthew J. Mancini, Saint Louis University
  • 2017: Jean-Christophe Agnew, Yale University
  • 2016: Robert Rydell, Montana State University
  • 2015: No selection
  • 2014: Melody Graulich, Utah State University
  • 2013: Joy Kasson, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • 2012: Alan Wald, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 2011: Thomas Vernon Reed, Washington State University
  • 2010: Matthew Pratt Guterl, Indiana University
  • 2009: Vera Norwood, University of New Mexico
  • 2008: Maria Irene Ramalho de Sousa Santos, University of Coimbra, Portugal
  • 2007: James Salem, University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa
  • 2006: Michael Steiner, California State University, Fullerton
  • 2005: Joanna S. Zangrando, Skidmore College
  • 2004: Norman R. Yetman, University of Kansas
  • 2003: Daniel Horowitz, Smith College
  • 2002: Eric J. Sandeen, University of Wyoming
  • 2001: Robert A. Gross, College of William and Mary
  • 2000: Jesper Rosenmeier, Tufts University
  • 1999: Simon Bronner, Pennsylvania State University
  • 1998: Jay E. Mechling, University of California, Davis
  • 1997: Michael Aaron Rockland, Rutgers University
  • 1997: Lois P. Rudnick, University of Massachusetts, Boston
  • 1996: Alma Payne, Bowling Green State University
  • 1995: Richard Slotkin, Wesleyan University
  • 1994: Paul R. Baker, New York University
  • 1994: Charles Bassett, Colby College