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REGION III Award descriptions

Each year NASPA recognizes outstanding members by honoring individual professionals with the following regional awards:

The President's Award

This award is a special recognition given to a college or university president who has, over a sustained period of time, advanced the quality of student life on campus by supporting student affairs staff and programs. Nominees must show evidence of direct involvement in enhancing the quality of student life on campus, active attempts to involve students and student life staff in governing the institution, and demonstrable contributions to the profession which have an impact beyond an individual campus.

John Jones Award for Outstanding Performance as a Senior Student Affairs Officer.

John Jones was the first Vice President of Student Affairs of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He served in this role from 1978-1990. He was responsible for the development, design, and funding of the Hill University Center, UAB's first student center complex and was actively involved in the planning, construction and operation of the Bartow Arena.

He was awarded NASPA’s Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean which honors those who have demonstrated sustained, high-quality work and professional service in student affairs. He authored or co-authored numerous papers and articles published in professional journals.

He also received a number of special honors and awards from SACSA (Southern Association for College Student Affairs) including the Melvene Draheim Hardee Award and the Howard H. Davis, Sr. Award.

The recipient of this award will be the Region III nominee for the Scott Goodnight Award given by NASPA at its annual Spring Conference. 

The nominated individual must have demonstrated:

• Sustained professional service as a Senior Student Affairs Officer
• High-level competency in administrative skills
• Merited respect and support of students, faculty, and fellow administrators on his/her own campus
• Innovative response in meeting varied and emerging needs of students
• Effectiveness in the development of junior staff members
• Significant contributions to the field through publications or professional involvement
• Leadership in community and university affairs
• Must be a current member of NASPA Region III.

John Koldus Award for Distinguished Service to NASPA Region III

He served NASPA as Region III Vice President in 1976-78 and as Conference Chair for the 1984 NASPA Conference in Louisville. Dr. Koldus received some of NASPA’s highest honors including the Fred Turner Award for Outstanding Service to NASPA and the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean and was named a NASPA Foundation “Pillar of the Profession” in 2001. During his career, he served on the executive committees of numerous organizations including SACSA (Southern Association for College Student Affairs), TACUSPA (Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators), and NASULGC (National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.)

The recipient of this award will be the Region III nominee for the Fred Turner Award for Outstanding Service to NASPA given at the national conference. 

The individual nominated must have demonstrated:

• Continuous NASPA membership for at least ten years
• Leadership performance in NASPA at the state, regional, or national level, the high quality of which is recognized by NASPA peers
• Contributions above and beyond the normal service required by positions of leadership.

Bob E. Leach Award for Outstanding Service to Students

Dr. Bob E. Leach’s first professional position was at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC where he served as Associate Dean of Students. Prior to this he was a mathematics teacher and vice principal at a high school in Spartanburg. He went on to serve as Dean of Students for 5 years at Southern Methodist University. In 1978 he was appointed as Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida State University, making him the highest-ranking black administrator in FSU history. He held this position until 1988. 

He served as president of NASPA from 1985-1986, on the executive committee of SACSA (Southern Association for College Student Affairs), and as chair of the State University System Council for Student Affairs.

Helping students, faculty and staff create a caring and sharing community, one in which students could develop their own sense of ethics and values, was Leach’s mission at Florida State. He believed that the academic, social and personal experiences of students strongly shaped their success and growth.

The individual nominated must have demonstrated:

• Genuine and sincere sense of caring and concern for students
• A commitment to personalized student experiences and evidence of successful efforts in humanizing the campus community
• High quality interaction with individual students and student groups
• Evidence of successful student advocacy
• Evidence of performance above and beyond the call of duty while serving multiple roles within the campus community
• Each nomination must include a letter of support from a student
• Must be a current member of NASPA Region III

Robert D. Bradshaw Small Colleges Student Advocate Award

Dr. Robert Bradshaw or "Brad" as many in the profession knew him, served as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Austin College in Sherman, Texas where he developed and refined the division. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University, his Masters from Miami University of Ohio, and his Doctorate from the University of Missouri. While there he did his dissertation on retention at small colleges and used Austin College for the basis of his work. 

Within NASPA he was one of the early voices and advocates for small colleges. He believed strongly that we needed to focus more on the large number of small colleges across the nation and offer more intentional professional development for small college staff. Many professionals who created the Small College Institute, the Small Colleges and Universities Knowledge Community, and other such initiatives did so knowing these were Brad's passions and dreams.

This award honors the significant roles Brad played in a small college setting and beyond. He was a special person who championed students and who challenged those around him to always do the right thing.

The individual nominated must have demonstrated:

• Currently employed at an institution of higher education of less than 2500 students
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and goals of small colleges
• Evidence of significant successful student advocacy and interaction with individual students and student groups
• Evidence of performance above and beyond the call of duty while serving multiple roles within the campus community
• Must be a current member of NASPA Region III

Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs Through Teaching

The recipient of the award will be the Region III nominee for the Robert Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty member. Criteria include: 

• Contribution to the profession through development of professionals
• Contribution to the profession through research and publication
• Contribution to the profession through active involvement with professional organization(s)
• Each nomination must include a letter of support from a student

James E. Scott Outstanding Mid-Level Student Affairs Professional Award

Dr. Jim Scott began his professional career at Eastern Michigan University, serving as Assistant Dean of Students, and later as Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Office of Campus Life. In 1981 he moved to the University of Florida where he served as Dean of Students, a position he would hold for 12 years, and quickly gained a reputation as someone students could trust. He earned high praise in 1990 for his help in guiding the university through one of its toughest periods - the murders of five local college students, four of whom were enrolled at UF. In 1993 he left UF to become Vice President for Student Services at George State University, but returned to UF six years later as Vice President of Student Affairs.

Jim was a very active and engaged member of NASPA, serving as conference chair in 1992 and NASPA President in 1994-95. In 2001 he was named one of the NASPA Foundation "Pillars of the Profession.” He also served on the ACPA - NASPA Blue Ribbon Committee just before his untimely death in 2003. As NASPA President, Jim established the National Academy for Leadership and Executive Effectiveness providing high quality professional development opportunities for SSAOs.

Dean Scott was widely known for his down-to-earth personality and ability to work easily with professional colleagues and students alike. He had a strong commitment to staff development and professional growth. This award is presented to mid-level student affairs professionals that demonstrate the personal and professional qualities that characterized Dr. James E. Scott. 

The recipient of the Region III James E. Scott Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award will be submitted as the region’s candidate for the national Mid-Level Student Affairs Professional Award. Nominees for this award must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrated expertise in creating a campus environment that promotes student learning and personal development
• Outstanding individual contribution in innovative and responsive services and programs that address varied and emerging needs of students
• Significant contributions to the profession and to NASPA
• Must have at least five years as a full-time practitioner in the field of Student Affairs
• Must be a current member of NASPA Region III

William Leftwich Award for Outstanding New Professional in NASPA Region III

This award was named to honor William “Bill” Leftwich and his remarkable career in higher education. An Army veteran, Dr. Leftwich took received two degrees from the University of Richmond - a B.A. in 1952 and an M.A. in 1956 - and earned a Doctor of Philosophy in psychology in 1962 from Purdue University. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant professor in the department of psychology and rose through the faculty ranks to become department chair and director of the Center of Psychological Services in 1966. Having established himself as a knowledgeable and valuable resource to the University, in 1972 he was named Director of Student Services and Activities. Then in 1973 he became the University of Richmond’s first Vice President for Student Affairs, a position he held until his death in 1986.

Bill Leftwich is remembered as a man with a great sense of humor, an avid tennis player, and a wonderful colleague with a deep love for higher education. As vice president he provided leadership for a disparate set of offices and services to become a viable Division of Student Affairs. Devoting his life and career to the University of Richmond, he was influential in the lives of many students and his example was an inspiration to other professionals seeking to make higher education their life’s work.

The individual nominated must meet the following criteria: 

• May not have served more than three years in a full-time position in student affairs
• Will be judged on contributions to NASPA and contributions to the individual’s employer institution(s)
• Has performed all aspects of his/her job in an exemplary manner
• Must include a supporting letter from the immediate supervisor as one of the letters of support
• Must be a current member of NASPA Region III

Outstanding Graduate Student in Region III Award

This award recognizes achievement, involvement and potential for leadership in our emerging Student Affairs professionals.  Nominees for this award must be students pursuing a masters degree related to student affairs with the intent of pursuing a career in the field. Nominees may not be current full-time employees of an institution.  Preference will be given to students who also have a graduate assistantship or internship experience in a student affairs department. This award is presented to a graduate student based on the following criteria:

• Made a significant contribution to their campus
• Demonstrated academic achievement
• Exceeded the expectations of their respective leadership positions
• Assumed a leadership role at their institution and/or at the state or regional levels
• Demonstrates potential for substantial contributions to the student affairs profession
• NASPA membership not required for nominee

• Demonstrated active involvement with the profession, NASPA, and Community College research, policies, or practice at the regional level
• Contributed to creating a campus environment that promotes student learning and personal development
• Outstanding individual contribution in innovative and responsive services and programs that address varied and emerging needs of students
• A minimum of five years of experience in student affairs
• Be a current NASPA member within the region or have retired from the region