Public Understanding of Sociology Award

Last Updated: September 17, 2024

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