About the Online Workshop

This site was conceived by Michael Watts and made possible by the Rockefeller Foundation, which supported a series of dissertation workshops held throughout Canada and the United States. These workshops, which brought together established scholars and graduate students writing dissertation proposals, have been an invaluable part of many students' academic success. This online workshop is intended to bring the benefits of these face-to-face meetings to a wider graduate student community.

Loren Landau, a one-time workshop participant and Political Science doctoral candidate at UC Berkeley, originally developed this site in 1999. Jake Kosek, a Geography doctoral candidate, joined him in 2001. Together they co-authored much of the site's content and ensured its accessibility and utility to a cross-disciplinary audience. Letitia Carper has provided technical expertise and advice throughout the process and currently maintains the site. The current site is a result of their joint efforts.

Back to the Workshop Homepage.