Sofia Elverdin Selected as Co-Recipient of the Best Dissertation Prize From the American Political Science Association’s Women, Gender and Politics Section The assistant professor of politics will receive her prize at the association’s annual meeting in Boston in September.

By Brian Laubscher
June 25, 2026

Sofia Elverdin, assistant professor of politics at Washington and Lee University, was recently selected as a co-recipient of the American Political Science Association’s (APSA) Best Dissertation Prize in the Women, Gender and Politics Research section. She will receive her award at the 122nd APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition held in Boston Sept. 3-6.

The Best Dissertation Prize is presented on an annual basis for the best dissertation on women and politics completed and successfully defended in the previous calendar year. In addition to the recognition, the award carries a $500 prize.

Elverdin was recognized for her dissertation, “The Cost of Success: Disenchantment After Partidization. Evidence from Contemporary Feminist Movements in Argentina,” completed as part of her Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in 2025. Elverdin is one of two recipients of the 2026 prize and is joined by Ophelia Ekaterini Vedder of Washington University in St. Louis.

Elverdin recently completed her first year as a member of the W&L faculty. Her research focuses on social movements and gender and politics in Latin America. In addition to her Ph.D., she also holds a Master of Arts in political science from Yale and a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in political science from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (Argentina).

Founded in 1903, APSA is the leading professional organization for the study of political science, serving more than 11,000 members in more than 100 countries. APSA brings together political scientists from all fields of inquiry, regions and professional backgrounds to deepen understanding of politics, democracy and citizenship worldwide. The association disseminates information, facilitates collaboration, publicizes research findings and publishes materials relevant to the discipline while enhancing members’ capacity to conduct research, improve teaching and communicate their ideas to the wider public.

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