Grants for SMU Graduate Students

four professorsThe William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies offers a small number of travel grants to support research on the American Southwest and the borderlands by SMU graduate students needing to visit sites beyond the campus of SMU.  Preference will be given to students who have passed their oral exams and are working on dissertations (but who have not exhausted their five-year enrollment at SMU). The Center will reimburse expenses for travel, research materials, and research-related activities, up to $500 per week.

There are three named grants available:

The Clements Center Research Grant.  This grant is awarded to students to conduct research for their dissertation on any aspect of Texas, the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, and the American Southwest.

The Joseph H. Staley Research Grant. Named in memory of Joe Staley, a long time member of the Clements Center executive board and its former chair.  This grant is awarded to students to conduct research for their dissertation on any aspect of Texas, the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, and the American Southwest.

The Steve Denson Research Grant.  Named in honor of Steve Denson, long time SMU board member of the Clements Center as well as a professor in SMU's Cox School of Business and an enrolled Chickasaw.  This grant supports dissertation research on any aspect of Native American and Indigenous history.   

Graduate students who wish to apply should submit a proposal, approximately 750 words in length, which includes:

  1. Most recent curriculum vita.

  2. A description of the nature, scope, and significance of the topic as it relates to Texas, the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, or the American Southwest.

  3. A statement about how the research activities or acquisition of materials will enhance the quality of the work on the topic.

  4. A budget.

  5. Other potential or actual sources of funding.

  6. The projected time for completion of the project.

  7. A letter of recommendation from the professor who is supervising the work.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact your graduate advisor or the Clements Center assistant director.

Send applications via email to Clements Center assistant director at swcenter@smu.edu by April 14, 2025.

Image left to right: George T. Diaz, John Chavez, David Rex Galindo, Peter Bakewell