Selection Criteria and Eligibility
The ASA Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award honors ASA members’ outstanding contributions to the teaching of undergraduate and/or graduate sociology. The award recognizes contributions that have made a significant impact on the manner in which sociology is taught at a regional, state, national, or international level.
The award typically is given for a series of contributions spanning several years or an entire career, although it may recognize a single project of exceptional impact. The award is not designed to recognize outstanding teaching ability at one’s own institution unless that is part of a career with broader impact. Individuals or groups of individuals are eligible. Programs and departments are not eligible.
Contributions considered may include preparation of teaching- and curriculum-related materials and publications, participation in the scholarship of teaching and learning, development and communication of innovative teaching techniques, leadership in teaching-related workshops or symposia, and/or involvement in innovative program development.
Nomination Procedures
Nominations must include the name of the nominee and a one to two-page statement explaining the basis of the nomination (maximum 2000 words), a CV, and 1-2 letters of recommendation.
In addition to the nomination materials described above, complete and submit the required nomination form.
Nominations can be considered for five years. However, nominations are not automatically renewed. Each year, nominators will be asked if they wish to renew their nominations for consideration. If a renewal is requested, nominators will be invited to submit updated information or additional materials and are required to respond again to the ethics question.
Self-nominations are encouraged. All awardees must be current ASA members at the time of the award ceremony at the Annual Meeting. One need not be a member to be nominated for an award. All nominators must be current members. Please also be aware of ASA’s ethics disclosure and award revocation policies.
Submit nominations for the 2025 award to [email protected] by January 1, 2025.
2025 Selection Committee Members
The selection committee is composed of nine members, each serving a staggered three-year term. Members are appointed from among the Association membership by the Council based on the recommendation of the Committee on Committees.
Michel Estefan, Chair
Colby R. King
Stephanie Medley-Rath
José A. Muñoz
Brian Powell
Michael Rosino
Kyler James Sherman-Wilkins
Piper Sledge
Colleen Elizabeth Wynn
Past Recipients
2024 Robin G. Isserles
2024 Michele Lee Kozimor
2023 Jeffrey Chin
2022 Melinda Messineo
2022 Karen Sternheimer
2021 Susan Ferguson
2020 Brian Powell
2020 Michael Schwartz
2019 William Frey
2018 Daniel F. Chambliss
2017 Howard Aldrich
2016 Helen A. Moore
2015 Gwen Sharp and Lisa Wade for “Sociological Images Blog”
2014 Kathleen Lowney
2013 Rose Brewer
2013 Jay Howard
2012 Diane Pike
2012 Katherine Rowell
2011 Maxine Atkinson
2010 Keith Roberts
2009 Carla B. Howery
2008 Carol Jenkins
2008 Elizabeth Grauerholz
2007 Edward Kain
2006 Kathleen McKinney
2005 Caroline Hodges Persell
2004 Jeanne Ballantine
2003 Robert M. Hauser
2003 Michael Burawoy
2002 John Macionis
2001 Department of Sociology, Indiana University
2000 George Ritzer
1999 William G. Roy
1998 Sociology Major Program, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Santa Clara University
1997 Robert R. Alford
1996 Vaneeta D’Andrea
1995 Dean S. Dorn
1994 Reece McGee
1993 Memphis State University Center for Research on Women (Bonnie Thornton Dill, Elizabeth Higginbotham, Lynn Weber)
1992 Theodore C. Wagenaar
1991 No award presented
1990 Southwest Texas State University Sociology Program
1989 James A. Davis
1988 Sharon McPherron
1988 Charles A. Goldsmid
1987 William A. Gamson
1986 Sister Marie Augusta Neal
1985 University of Kentucky Department of Sociology
1984 Joseph Bensman
1983 David Riesman
1982 John C. Pock
1981 Hans O. Mauksch
1980 Everett K. Wilson
