By: Jennifer E. Moore
Greetings, colleagues!
The 45th annual AJHA Convention is going coast to coast this year, moving from the Pacific shores of Long Beach, California, to the heart of Greenville, South Carolina. This year’s conference is later than usual, November 5-7, 2026, at the Westin Poinsett Hotel. Plan accordingly. Our board continues to recommend that the submission deadline remains close to our usual June deadline. Original research papers, panels, and research in progress submissions are due June 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. CST). Visit the AJHA website see the full call.
As your Research Committee Chair, I’m also writing to clarify some of the long-held guidelines our organization has honored to ensure we continue our tradition of excellence that defines our gathering—from students to senior scholars, along with the journalists we honor and the local community members we welcome each year. Page limits, formatting, blind review requirements, and required components are essential to make the process go smoothly for all involved. Submissions that do not meet guidelines may not be considered.
Please remember that AJHA permits one entry per competition category. If you choose to submit in more than one category, your topic areas must be significantly different from one another. Submissions must be original and not under review elsewhere.
Individuals may participate on only one panel, and moderators may not also serve as panelists. These policies are not merely procedural; they also help make sure we have a diversity of topics, broad participation, and a program that reflects the richness of our field.
Please consider submitting your own work, encourage your students to submit, and share our convention call broadly with colleagues on your campus and beyond. Our strength as an organization depends on seasoned scholars, emerging researchers, and those who work closely with graduate students seeing AJHA as a vibrant and welcoming home for their scholarship.
This year, there are some new colleagues helping with the competition. I’m grateful to Dianne Bragg, who is serving in her new role coordinating Panel submissions, and Patrick File, who is overseeing Research in Progress submissions this year. I also want to extend heartfelt thanks to outgoing Panel coordinator Susan Swanberg and Research in Progress coordinator Gwyneth Mellinger for their thoughtful leadership and dedicated service.
Speaking of service, this is my third and final year serving as Research Committee Chair. Who wants to step up and serve? I welcome the opportunity to train and mentor anyone interested in stepping into this role. It has been an honor to serve, and I’m committed to a smooth transition.
Ready, set, write! See you in Greenville this November.
Jennifer E. Moore is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth and the AJHA Research Committee Chair.
