Selection Criteria
The Public Understanding of Sociology Award is given annually to an ASA member or group of members who have made exemplary contributions to advance the public understanding of sociology, sociological research, and scholarship among the general public. This may include, but is not limited to, any of the following: community work, public engagement, contributing to policy and practices, and/or translating sociological knowledge into broader publics. The award may recognize a contribution in the preceding year or for a longer career of such contributions.
Nomination Procedures
Nominations must include the nominee’s vita and a detailed one to two-page nomination statement that describes how the person’s work has contributed to increasing the public understanding and knowledge of sociology. Additionally, the nominator must also include two to three letters of recommendation. The nominator may also include the evidence supporting the claims made in the nomination letter.
In addition to the nomination materials described above, complete and submit the required nomination form.
Nominations can be considered for five years, but they 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.
Felicia Arriaga, Chair
Algernon Austin
Michelle J. Budig
Arielle Kuperberg
Yader R. Lanuza
Daniel Laurison
Alondra Nelson
Jennifer Randles
Louise Seamster
Past Recipients
2024 Cecilia Menjívar
2023 Douglas Hartmann and Christopher Uggen
2022 Julie Dowling
2021 Bernice A. Pescosolido
2021 Rashawn Ray
2020 Tressie McMillan Cottom
2019 Joe Feagin
2018 Adia M. Harvey Wingfield
2017 Victor Rios
2016 Joel Best
2015 Katherine Shelley Newman
2014 Juliet B. Schor
2013 Ruth Milkman
2012 Douglas S. Massey
2011 Barbara Risman
2010 Valerie Jenness
2010 Doris Wilkinson
2009 Jack Levin
2008 David Segal
2008 Shirley Laska
2007 Andrew Beveridge
2006 Diane Vaughan
2005 Pepper Schwartz
2004 Jerome Scott & Walda Katz Fishman
2003 Frances Fox Piven
2002 No award presented
2001 Alan Wolfe
2000 Arlie Hochschild
1999 Herbert J. Gans
1998 William Julius Wilson
1997 Charles Moskos
