CEP Founders’ Service Award

The CEP Founders’ Service Award recognizes a member of the ASHE community who demonstrates sustained and long-term service to CEP. Service refers to engagement in any activity that supports the goals and objectives of CEP and fosters inclusiveness within the ASHE community. 

Nominations for 2024 are now closed.  2025 Nominations will open in early May and closes approximately late June.

Nomination Evaluation Criteria | Awards Timeline | Nomination Requirements | Awards Committee | Past Recipients

Nomination Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing nominations, the awards committee will make decisions based on the following preferred and demonstrated attributes:

  1. Active membership and involvement in CEP for at minimum 7 years 
  2. Previous experience serving in a leadership position, in office, or on a committee for CEP 
  3. Advances equity, inclusion, and social justice in CEP and the broader ASHE organization
  4. Evidence and service to the development of emerging scholars, practitioners, and/or administrators

2024 Awards Timeline

  • Nominations for 2024 are now closed.
    Due to the number of submissions and the review process, no late submissions will be accepted; as such, nominators are encouraged to submit their nominations well in advance of this deadline.
  • Nominators and nominees will be informed of decisions in mid-September.
  • An announcement of recipients will be sent to the ASHE membership in late September.
  • The recipient(s) will be recognized during the ASHE Awards Ceremony during the Annual Conference.

Nomination Requirements

Each submission will need:
  • Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominator
  • Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominee
  • A nomination statement (no more than 500 words) that speaks to the nominee’s service to CEP and highlights the nominee’s dedication and commitment, fostering inclusiveness, length of involvement, type of activities, commitment, and/or making CEP a viable ASHE council. 
  • 2-3 letters of support (with at least one letter of recommendation from an ASHE member). For upload into the nomination form, these should be combined into one PDF document.

Due to the increased number of nominations received in recent years, each nominee will be limited to one nomination. In the event multiple nominations are submitted, the committee chair will notify the coordinating nominators requesting they consolidate their nominations.

The coordinating nominator, as well as the award nominee(s) (and subsequently recipient(s)), must be current members of ASHE.

Questions about the 2024 award process can be sent to awards@ashe.ws.

Nominations for 2024 are now closed.

Awards Committee

Each year, the Council Chair appoints an awards committee, in close consultation with the Executive Committee, to solicit and accept nominations. ASHE awards committee members are not eligible to be nominated during the year in which they serve on the committee.

2024 CEP Awards Committee:

  • Natasha Croom (Chair), Clemson University
  • Leslie Ekpe, Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • Brittany Smotherson, University of Missouri

Past Recipients

2023: Kandace Hinton

Additional Recipients

  • 2021: Natasha N. Croom (YouTube Link)
  • 2018: Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher
  • 2017: Denise O'Neil Green
  • 2016: D-L Stewart
  • 2015: Frankie Santos Laanan 
  • 2014: Mitchell J. Chang 
  • 2012: Terrell L. Strayhorn & Mildred Garcia 
  • 2011: Estela Bensimon 
  • 2010: Kim Nehls 
  • 2009: Leonar "Len" Foster (posthumously) 
  • 2008: Kassie Freeman 
  • 2007: Berta Vigil Laden (posthumously) and Bonita Butner