The David N. Kershaw Award and Prize was established to honor persons who, before the age of 40, have made distinguished contributions to the field of public policy analysis and management. This award seeks to recognize original contributions to research-based knowledge that have advanced the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies. Eligibility is not contingent on disciplinary background, policy focus or academic credentials.
This prize is among the most prestigious and largest awards recognizing contributions to public policy and social science. Funding for the award comes from a memorial endowment established following the death of David N. Kershaw and managed by independent trustees. The precise age cut-off is having a 40th birthday no earlier than Dec 31 of the year prior to the award. For example a candidate for consideration of a 2024 Kershaw award would need to have been 39 on Dec 31, 2023.
The 2024 Award and Prize will be presented prominently at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management’s (APPAM’s) 2024 Annual Conference, which will be held in National Harbor, MD November 21-13, 2024. The recipient will receive a cash prize of $20,000 at the Awards Reception & Presidential Address.
Nominations are now open for 2024! Access the nomination form here.
2023 David N. Kershaw Recipient
Elizabeth Linos
Emma Bloomberg Associate Professor and Faculty Director of The People Lab
Harvard Kennedy School
Dr. Elizabeth Linos is the Emma Bloomberg Associate Professor for Public Policy and Management, and Faculty Director of The People Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School. The majority of her research focuses on how to improve government by focusing on its people and the services they deliver. Her research has been published in various academic journals including The Journal for Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration Review, Econometrica, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Behavioural Public Policy, and others. Her work has also been highlighted in media outlets including The New York Times, The Economist, BBC, NPR, Slate, and the Harvard Business Review.
Learn more about her contributions here.
Prior Award Recipients
The prior winners and their institutional affiliations at the time they won the award are as follows: