On Wednesday, April 3, the 2013 International Awards Ceremony was held where Mohammad V. Ali won the Gill-Chin Lim Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Global Studies at MSU.

The nominations for Dr. Mohammad V.Ali for Outstanding Dissertation in Global Studies consistently pointed to the quality of his research and skills for rigorous methods and analysis. It is not surprising then that his research findings are both relevant and immediately applicable to the field of Criminal Justice and provide a valuable guide for discussions on terrorism in Pakistan.

Mohammad's thesis, "Analysis of the Labeling Discourse between the Jamaat Ut Dawa (JuD) and its Critics Seen Through the Pakistani Print Media," provides unique insights into how a large indigenious Pakistani group is portrayed in profoundly different terms in English language media versus the local Urdu language.

His thesis offers insights to the "terrorist" label as it is applied in Pakistan and used in the development of policy and international relations - especially in the Global War on Terrorism.

Mohammad completed his dissertation in a highly demanding program. MSU's School of Criminal Justice in the College of Social Science is ranked among the top schools in the country. Even at this level of rigor, Mohammad excelled in all aspects of his graduate training, which is aptly reflected in the quality and sophistication of his dissertation.

The impact of Mohammad's research and dissertation will be seen for years to come. His contributions will without a doubt support global understanding of terrorists labeling and criminology.

The Gill-Chin Lim Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Global Studies rightfully places Mohammad among a selected group of winners who have contributed to excellence in international studies and programs at MSU.