Congratulations to new Assistant Professor Austin Nelson on receiving the 2026 Best Dissertation in American Political Thought Award from the American Political Science Association for his dissertation, “America’s Bankrupt Constitution: Contract Rights, Insolvent Debtors, and the Foundations of American Federalism.” Nelson also received an Honorable Mention for the Walter Dean Burnham Dissertation Award in the field Politics and History. He will be recognized for his work at the American Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting. Congratulations on these outstanding achievements, Professor Nelson! #USCRiceLaw