Marjorie Peace Lenn Research Award

Background:
Established by AIRC through the generosity of AIRC Sponsors and Members in remembrance of Dr. Marjorie Peace Lenn, a well-known and influential international educator who passed away in October 2010. A leader in the global quality assurance movement in higher education, Dr. Lenn was founding president of the Center for Quality Assurance in International Education (CQAIE) and established the AIRC Certification process for educational agencies.

Purpose:
Encourages scholarly research on international education, student mobility, and recruitment—a topic about which Dr. Lenn was passionate.

Award Details:

• Prize: $1,000 cash award
• Additional Benefits: Complimentary all-inclusive attendance to the AIRC annual conference
• Presentation Opportunity: Awardee will present their research to conference attendees
• Publication: Final research product will be posted on AIRC's website

Focus Areas:

• International education
• Student mobility
• International student recruitment

Eligibility:

• Applicants: Undergraduate and graduate students
• Research Timeline: Must have completed research within the last year of applying
• Work Status: Research that is close to completion will also be considered (e.g., working on data analysis, implications, and/or conclusion)

Award Committee:
Comprised of experienced AIRC members and the AIRC Executive Director

Contact Information:

• Phone: 240-547-6400
• Email: Staff@airc-education.org
• Address: AIRC, PO Box 7522, Falls Church, VA 22040
• Mailing Address: AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management, 1801 Wewatta St, Floor 11, Denver, CO 80202

Past Recipients

2025: Eric D. de Roulet, University of British Columbia

• Research Topic: Finding agency as a recent graduate in Taiwan: On the cultural capital, social ties, and self-efficacy of prospective international graduate students

2024: Dr. Dane Rowley, University of Minnesota

• Research Topic: Border Benders: Queer International Student Experiences in U.S. Universities

2023: Dr. Eric Leise, South Dakota State University

• Research Topic: The Role of University Structures and Cultures in Internationalizing Higher Education

2022: Mr. Kebler Tozini, The George Washington University

• Research Topic: The Role of International Student Associations on the Reduction of Inequality in International Higher Education

2021: Mr. Max Crumley-Effinger, Loyola University of Chicago

• Research Topic: Experiencing International Student Mobility and Migration Policy: A Qualitative Multicase Study

Honorable Mentions (2021):

• Dr. Tracey Hidalgo, University of Toledo; Factors Impacting International Students' Sense of Belonging
• Ms. Lina Heaster-Ekholm, UMass Amherst; Insuring Culturally Inclusive Online Courses for International Students: A Delphi Study to Identify Requisite Instructor Competencies
• Ms. Martina Schiavo, Ball State University; Impact of International Office's Role in Teaching English in an ESL/EFL Context

2020: Dr. Jody Pritt, University of Missouri, Columbia

• Research Topic: Beyond the Horizon and Back. Making Meaning of the International Student's Experience: A Case Study in Sultan Qaboos Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients in Oman

2019: Dr. Emily Kirsch, University of Minnesota

• Research Topic: Ethical Possibilities In International Student Recruitment

2018: Mr. William Geibel, University of California, Los Angeles

• Research Topic: Diplomacy in Higher Education: Middle Eastern International Students' Perceptions of Internationalization

2017: Mr. Kishmar Best, University of Albany, State University of New York

• Research Topic: Internationalization and International Recruitment at Historically Black Colleges & Universities: Administrative Structures, Institutional Support & Challenges

2016: Mr. Harrison Fuerst, SIT Graduate Institute

• Research Topic: How Experiential Off-Campus Study Opportunities Impact International Student Enrollment Decisions

2015: Dr. George Kacenga, University of Pittsburgh

• Research Topic: Globalization of Foreign Academic Credential Placement Recommendations for Graduate Study in the United States, 1932-2015

2014: Ms. Jingzhu Zhang, College of William and Mary

• Research Topic: Effects of Virtual Conversations with American Students on International Students' Intercultural Communicative Competence

2013: Ms. Lindsay Coco, University of Georgia

• Research Topic: Capturing a Global Student Market for College and Universities: The Use of Private Third Party Agents in International Student Recruitment

2012: Dr. Gloria Shenoy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Research Topic: Information Mismatch: What International Students Thought Their Community College Experience Would Be Like

2011: Ms. Yuanyuan Dai, M.A., University of Tulsa

• Research Topic: The Relationship Between The Usage Of Recruitment Agents And Student Satisfaction Among Chinese International Students

Application Process

Detailed application instructions are not provided in the available content. Interested applicants should contact AIRC directly for:

• Application deadlines
• Required application materials
• Submission procedures
• Specific guidelines for documenting research completion status

Contact Information:

• Phone: 240-547-6400
• Email: Staff@airc-education.org