2012 PRSA Frank Bonilla Book Award

Announcement:

During its October 24–28, 2012, 20th Anniversary Conference at the University at Albany (SUNY) , PRSA announced that the Winner of its 2012 Frank Bonilla Book Award is Professor Ana Yolanda Ramos–Zayas (The Valentín Lizana y Parragué Chair of Latin American Studies, Baruch College, City University of New York, CUNY), for Street Therapists: Race, Affect, and Neoliberal Personhood in Latino Newark (University of Chicago Press, 2012).

In addition, the Book Award Committee awarded Honorable Mention citations to Professor Marc Zimmerman (University of Houston), for Defending Their Own in the Cold The Cultural Turns of U.S. Puerto Ricans (University of Illinois Press, 2011); and to Professor Lorrin Thomas (Rutgers University), for Puerto Rican Citizen: History and Political Identity in Twentieth-Century New York City (University of Chicago Press, 2010).

PRSA will publish soon a copy of the book award citations read at the conference’s awards ceremony by Professor Charles R. Venator–Santiago (University of Connecticut), chair of the Book Award Committee (and incoming 2013–2014 PRSA President).

PRSA wishes to express its most sincere gratitude to the all members of the Book Award Committee, Professors Venator–Santiago (chair), Ángel G. Quintero–Rivera (University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, and winner of the inaugural book award in 2010), and Ileana M. Rodríguez-Silva (University of Washington–Seattle), for their work evaluating all submissions and choosing such a distinguished group of Puerto Rican Studies scholars.

2012 Frank Bonilla Award Competition (EXPIRED)

Books published between May 1, 2010 and April 1, 2012 were eligible for consideration.

The late Frank Bonilla, co-founder and first Director of the Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños, Hunter College (CUNY)

Named in honor of Frank Bonilla, one of the most signally distinguished, centrally foundational figures in our field and intended to recognize, highlight and honor the most notable book produced in Puerto Rican Studies between our biennial meetings, this competition was open without regard to particular topic, theme, approach or discipline. Re-editions of a work previously published were, however, ineligible to compete; and anthologies of selections by multiple authors, though not excluded, are also not normally priority candidates for this award.  Nominations could be made by any PRSA member, by individual authors, their publishers or agents.

The Selection Committee’s commitment has always been from among all entries received to choose that one which, in the uncommon caliber of its scholarship, originality, and overall excellence, best and most compellingly engages issues and concerns of Puerto Ricans and their communities and altogether represents a preeminent, exceptionally distinguished contribution to our field.

All nominations had to be received no later than April 15, 2012.

Updated on February 23, 2013.