Each year the American Sociological Association presents this award to someone who has made exemplary contributions to the advancement of the public understanding of sociology, sociological research, and scholarship among the general public. The 2005 award was presented to Pepper Schwartz.

Through hundreds of appearances on TV and radio, and through scores of articles in popular magazines and newspapers, Pepper Schwartz has discussed and explained sociological research and insights about relationships, family, gender, and sexuality.

Schwartz is the author of 14 books, including such popular books such as The Lifetime Love and Sex Quiz Book; Everything You Know About Love and Sex is Wrong; Ten Talks Parents Must Have With Their Children About Sex and Character (with Cappello); 201 Question to Ask Your Kids / 201 Questions to Ask Your Parents (Avon/Morrow).

For more than seven years, she and Janet Lever authored the monthly "Sex and Health" column for Glamour Magazine and for eight she wrote the “Talking About Sex” column for American Baby Magazine. She also wrote a weekly column for Microsoft Corporation's One Click Away. She currently writes columns for LifetimeTV.com,Classmates.com, Lifetime Magazine, and Classmates Magazine.

Schwartz has contributed to many magazines, journals, and newspapers including the New York Times "Parent and Child" column, Sexual Health, Psychology Today, and Contexts. For twelve years she was a regular member of the KIRO-TV (Seattle) news staff, and appears regularly on national TV news, documentaries and other programs. Schwartz is the author of more than 40 scholarly articles and has served as a consultant to many national organizations. She lectures nationally and internationally on relationship topics, women’s issues, parent and child issues, communication between men and women in intimate and work relationships, and maintaining personal and family well-being in today’s world.

Her work with the press demonstrates that sociologists can present research about the most essential aspects of social existence in ways that are understandable and engaging while not betraying underlying methodological and substantive realities. Pepper Schwartz is a model of what sociologists can do to enhance the discipline and help society.