Research Achievement Award
The 2026 Awards Nominations process will open in May 2026
The Research Achievement Award is presented to an ASHE Member(s) in recognition of outstanding contribution of a body of research that advances scholars’ understanding of higher education in a significant way.
Nomination Evaluation Criteria
When reviewing nominations, the awards committee will make decisions based on the following preferred and demonstrated attributes:
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A body of scholarly work that changed the study of higher education in an important way;
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Use of the body of scholarship by others in the field;
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Use of sound and/or innovative methodology;
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Research accounts for systemic power and privilege.
Awards Timeline
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Early May: Awards Nominations Open
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June 30, 2025, 12:00pm Mountain/Denver Time: Awards Nominations close
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July-September: Committee review of nominations
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Late September: Notification to nominators of committee decisions
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Mid-October: Association-wide announcement of recipients
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November: Awards Ceremony during ASHE 2025 Annual Conference
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:
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Your ASHE website log-in credentials (as nominee).
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The name of your nominee(s) as they have it listed with ASHE to be able to look them up in the nominations system.
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The Nominee's CV to be uploaded as a PDF (for individual nominations)
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A nomination statement up to 750 words that demonstrates the nominee's match to the award evaluation criteria. This should not be a nomination or support letter, but a summary of the nominee's qualifications for this specific award.
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2-3 letters of support. For upload into the nomination form, these should be combined into one document as a PDF.
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.
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.
Recipients
| 2025 | Linda J. Sax |
| 2024 | Laura W. Perna |
| 2022 | Shaun Harper |
| 2020 | Mitchell J. Chang |
| 2019 | Anna Neumann |
| 2018 | Ann E. Austin |
| 2017 | Adrianna Kezar |
| 2016 | John M. Braxton |
| 2015 | Michael B. Paulsen |
| 2014 | Simon Marginson |
| 2013 | Estela Mara Bensimon |
| 2012 | Amaury Nora |
| 2011 | John R. Thelin |
| 2010 | Edward P. St. John |
| 2009 | Jerome Karabel |
| 2008 | John H. Schuh |
| 2007 | Marcia Baxter-Magolda |
| 2006 | Frances Stage |
| 2005 | Arthur M. Cohen |
| 2004 | Judith Glazer-Raymo |
| 2003 | Michael T. Nettles |
| 2002 | David W. Leslie |
| 2001 | John C. Smart |
| 2000 | George Kuh |
| 1999 | Vincent Tinto |
| 1998 | Sheila Slaughter |
| 1997 | William Tierney |
| 1996 | Kenneth A. Feldman |
| 1995 | Larry L. Leslie |
| 1994 | Michael A. Olivas |
| 1993 | Yvonna S. Lincoln |
| 1992 | Joan Stark |
| 1991 | Ernest Pascarella & Patrick Terenzini |
| 1990 | Robert Birnbaum |
| 1989 | Jack Schuster |
| 1988 | Robert Blackburn & Howard Bowen |
| 1987 | Alexander W. Astin |
| 1985 | Burton Clark |
Awards Committee
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Jason P. Guilbeau
PhD, CAE Executive Director Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner -
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