Outstanding Book Award

The Outstanding Book Award recognizes a book that makes a significant contribution to the study of higher education. The award is open to any book published within the last year that advances theories, knowledge, practices, pedagogies, and/or policies in the field of higher education.

Nomination Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing nominations, the awards committee will make decisions based on the following categories of evaluation:

1. Significance of the research questions, conceptual/theoretical argument, or pedagogical approach
2. New insight and knowledge that better informs the understanding of higher education
3. Quality and rigor of the methodological approach
4. Contribution/impact of the discovery or innovation
5. Accessibility of the content
6. Clarity of the writing
7. Overall presentation of the work

The Outstanding Book Award is presented for a book within a year of publication. For 2025, this includes books published between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025. Books may be single-authored or co-authored, however, no edited collections will be considered for nomination. Books may have been published globally, but for the purposes of consideration must be available in English.

Awards Timeline

• Early May: Awards Nominations Open
• June 13, 2025, 12:00pm Mountain/Denver Time: Awards Nominations close
• July-September: Committee review of nominations
• Late September: Notification to nominators of committee decisions
• Mid-October: Association-wide announcement of recipients
• November:
  • Awards Ceremony during ASHE 2025 Annual Conference
  • The award recipient will present their scholarship during a special session of the conference or during a virtual event during the year, to be coordinated by the Award Committee, ASHE Staff, and award recipient(s). 

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. 

Nomination Requirements

To submit a nomination you will need:

• Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Coordinating Nominator.
• Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominee.
  • Books may be single-authored or co-authored, however, no edited collections will be considered for nomination.
• A submission abstract (no more than 300 words) that provides a concise description of the book, including its purpose, methods, scope, and main conclusions. This should also include the full citation of the book. 
• A nomination statement up to 750 words that demonstrates how the book meets the award evaluation criteria and contributes to the field of higher education. 
• A table of contents from the book.
• One representative chapter from the book that best exemplifies the contribution/impact of the book.
• Nominators will receive information in the submission confirmation e-mail on how to send the nominated book (either electronically as an e-book or via mail as a hard copy) to the 6 members of the Outstanding Book Award Committee.

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 award process can be sent to awards@ashe.ws.

Conflicts of Interest

ASHE's Conflict of Interest Policy aims to ensure the integrity of the process. In establishing this policy, the Association sets forth circumstances that require ASHE members to refrain or recuse themselves from participation and circumstances where ASHE members need to consider whether the nature of their relationship creates the actuality or appearance of a conflict. 

To avoid conflicts of interests, current members of the Board of Directors, respective Council Executive Committees, and/or respective awards committees are ineligible to be part of the awards process, including nominating colleagues, being nominated, and writing letters of support.

Past Recipients

2024: Asian American Is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family by OiYan A. Poon, PhD

2023: Sex Work On Campus by Terah J. Stewart (YouTube Link)

2022: Native Presence and Sovereignty in College: Sustaining Indigenous Weapons to Defeat Systemic Monsters by Dr. Amanda R. Tachine (YouTube Link)

2021: The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom by Dr. Eddie R. Cole

2020: Gay Liberation to Campus Assimilation: Early Non-Heterosexual Student Organizing at Midwestern Universities by Patrick Dilley (YouTube Link)

2019: White Guys on Campus: Racism, White Identity, and the Myth of “Post-Racial” Higher Education by Nolan L. Cabrera

2018: Technology and Engagement: Making Technology Work for First Generation College Students by Heather Rowan-Kenyon, Ana M. Martinez Aleman, and Mandy Savitz-Romer