Pamela H. Simpson Presenter’s Fellowships

The Vernacular Architecture Forum seeks nominations for the 2026 Simpson Presenter’s Fellowship. This fellowship will be presented at the annual conference in 2026. 

The application deadline for 2026 Simpson Presenter’s Fellowship is December 1, 2025.

In memory of Pamela H. Simpson, whose commitment to mentoring young scholars touched the lives of numerous students and colleagues, the VAF Board of Directors has renamed the Annual Presenter’s Fellowships the Pamela H. Simpson Presenter’s Fellowships.

Since 1989, the VAF Board of Directors has allocated funding for financial assistance to students and young professionals presenting papers and posters at VAF annual conferences. Awards are intended to offset conference and travel cost for students, and to attract developing scholars to the organization.

Any person presenting a paper or poster at a VAF annual conference who is currently enrolled in a degree-granting program, or who has received a degree within one year of the annual conference is eligible to apply. Awards cannot exceed $1,000.00. Previous awardees are ineligible, even if their status has changed. Recipients are expected to participate fully in the conference, including tours and workshops.

Application Instructions

Applications must be submitted with paper or poster abstracts to the Conference Papers committee following the guidelines issued in the annual Call for Papers. An application consists of a one-page attachment with "Simpson Presenter’s Fellowship" at the top and the following information: 1) name, 2) institution or former institution, 3) degree program, 4) date of degree (received or anticipated), 5) mailing address, 6) permanent email address, 7) telephone number, and 8) paper or poster title.

  

Past Pamela H. Simpson Presenter’s Fellowship Recipients

In memory of Pamela H. Simpson, whose commitment to mentoring young scholars touched the lives of numerous students and colleagues, the Simpson Fellowship provides funding to students and young professionals presenting papers or posters at VAF annual conferences.

2025 Awardees: 

Hanyu Chen, University of California, Los Angeles

Hope Evans, Florida State University

Robert Franklin, Washington State University

Kate Hughes, Middle Tennessee State University

Shelby Kendrick, University of California, Berkeley

Feni Kurniati, University of Oregon

Octavio López-Martínez, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Chris Robey, National Park Service

Kate Wietor, Marstel-Day  (Photo, above, by Gretchen Pineo, 2025).

2024 Awardees: 

Bethany Bell, University of Virginia 

Pedro Miguel Castelo Ferreira, University of London

Lincoln Lewis, University of Virginia

Verónica Rosales, Brandenburg University of Technology

Becca Lo Presti, University of Delaware

Dilruba F. Shuvra, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Estrella Salgado, University of Delaware

Jeremy Lee Wolin, Princeton University

Yuchen Zhao, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 

2023 Awardees:

Carter Jackson, Boston University  

Jesse Kling, Higgens Quasebarth & Partners  

Alba Menéndez-Pereda, University of California, Los Angeles  

Mania Tahsina Taher, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee  

Emily Varley, University of Southern California  

Stephen Yerly, University of Florida  

Tian Zhang, University of Virginia & Tongji University, Shanghai