AAA GRADUATE STUDENT MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES

Our graduate student members are a vital part of the American Academy of Advertising (AAA).  The AAA can be an important source for your growth as scholars and teachers while you are in graduate school and through your entire career. It is common for our graduate student members to become active career-long AAA members.  In fact, many enjoy the AAA family so much that they remain active members even after retiring from their academic careers. 

The AAA has special programs aimed at helping our student members learn and grow. 

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

The AAA mentorship program matches a student member with an experienced AAA member based on students’ interests. The program is organized each year around the time of the annual conference, so students and their mentors can meet at the conference and start to develop a productive relationship.  Mentors can be great sources of advice and can even become research partners.  

FALL VIRTUAL GRADUATE STUDENT SYMPOSIUM

Each fall, the AAA holds a special virtual workshop for graduate students that focuses on job searching, interviewing, job talks/presentations, evaluating job opportunities and more.  Special sessions for master’s students are offered to discuss how to find the right Ph.D. program and the Ph.D. program application process.  

AAA JOB BANK 

AAA members have exclusive access to the AAA’s job bank where member schools list current job openings.

GRADUATE STUDENT LOOK BOOK 

AAA member students on the job market can elect to be a part of the AAA Graduate Student Look Book. This is a chance to showcase your vita and interests to schools with current or future job openings.

AWARDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

Dissertation Proposal Award Competition

Each year, the AAA gives financial support to multiple dissertation proposals based on a competitive review of entries. The awards are designed to help cover the costs of conducting dissertation research.  Award winners are acknowledged during the annual conference awards lunch. 

Non-Dissertation Research Grant for Graduate Students

The American Academy of Advertising Non-Dissertation Research Grant promotes doctoral students’ research in advertising. Any topic in advertising may be addressed. Winners are expected to grant the Journal of Advertising (JA), Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising (JCIRA), or Journalof Interactive Advertising (JIAD) the right of first refusal on any papers resulting from the dissertation. Recipients will receive half of the award at the time of selection and the other half of the award when the completed paper is submitted to the JA, JCIRA, or JIAD.

S. Watson Dunn Grant for Research in Global Advertising

This award funds graduate student research projects that focus on global advertising and related topics. Research proposals about global advertising can encompass, but are not limited to, promoting products, services, or brands on an international scale, targeting audiences across multiple countries, cultures, and regions as well as exploring the effectiveness of advertising strategies and campaigns to international audiences. Winners are expected to grant the Journal of Advertising (JA), Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising (JCIRA), or Journal of Interactive Advertising (JIAD) the right of first refusal on any papers resulting from the dissertation. Recipients will receive half of the award at the time of selection and the other half of the award when the completed paper is submitted to the JA, JCIRA, or JIAD.

Best Student AAA Conference Paper Award 

Each year, the AAA identifies one student-led paper as the best student conference paper. This honor is presented at the Awards Lunch during AAA’s annual conference. To be eligible, an AAA student member must be the sole or first author of the accepted paper. Make sure to check the “student paper” box when submitting your paper to be considered for this special award.

Student Conference Scholarships

Student members with accepted papers can apply for annual conference scholarships to help in part with conference attendance costs. Multiple awards are given each year.  Preference is given to sole authors followed by first authors and those students who have not previously received this conference scholarship.  These scholarships are presented during the awards lunch at the annual conference.

GRADUATE STUDENT/EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS PRECONFERENCE

Frequently, the AAA offers a special pre-conference for graduate students and early career scholars.  These sessions focus on how to develop a research program, how to navigate the journal review process, how to develop your professional reputation, and other important subjects essential to early career success. 

AAA GRADUATE STUDENT COMMITTEE

The AAA Graduate Student Interest Committee is composed of select AAA graduate student and faculty/scholar members. It is designed to give our student members a voice in the AAA, with special focus on how to best help our student members grow and thrive.

EXPERT WEBINARS 

The AAA Graduate Student Interest Committee hosts a small number of expert webinars, where AAA faculty members give brief presentations about their area of research and expertise and engage with students who share similar interests.

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOURS

The AAA Graduate Student Interest Committee hosts a small number of virtual “coffee hours.” These are opportunities for graduate AAA student members to chat informally with AAA faculty members about research, teaching, and professional development.