Simon Reich Human Security Writing Award
As part of The Ford Institute's mission to promote high-quality research and writing in the field of human security, it holds an annual competition for the best student paper on a human security topic. The winner is announced during the GSPIA graduation ceremony and receives a cash award. The paper is posted on the Ford Institute website and published in the following year's Pitt Policy Journal. The competition is named in honor of Dr. Simon Reich, who served from 2003 to 2008 as the founding Director of the Ford Institute.
Recent Winners:
(2025) Deborah Sike, for her paper, "Authoritarian Innovations and Democratic Backsliding: Exploring the Development of Modern Military Coups in the Sahel Region," which offers a critical and timely exploration of governance challenges.
(2024) Natty Good for her paper, "Women & Work in Thailand, Unpaid Care and Domestic Work of Thai Women" and Ariana Scott for her paper, "Natural Resource Governance and Management in Kenyan Community Water".