The 2021 Presser Foundation Graduate Award has been designated to doctoral ethnomusicology student Meng Ren. Her project supports her dissertation titled "Forbidden Sound: The Art, Culture, and Politics of Chinese Hip-Hop." According to the Presser Foundation, "The program is designed to encourage and support, in a special way, the advanced education and career of truly exceptional graduate music students who have the potential to make a distinguished contribution to the field of music."