George D. Kuh Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature and/or Research

Supporting the Profession Faculty
Award Type: national

Named in 2011 for the Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus at Indiana University and Director, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment, this award honors an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to research and scholarship related to higher education.  Throughout their career, the honoree’s work should address important and substantial issues, and have had a significant or transformative effect on higher education and student affairs practice in a national or international context.

Any NASPA member may nominate an individual for this award. Nominations for this award are also solicited from the NASPA Board of Directors.

The 2025 George D. Kuh Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature and/or Research is accepting nominations from July 31, 2024 to October 9, 2024.

NOMINATE

Award Criteria

  • Exceptional contributions to student affairs through sustained research and scholarship. Evaluated by frequency of publication (journal article, book chapter, online article, etc.).

  • Issues addressed in research and scholarship have to be important and substantial issues. Evaluated by significance of issues within higher education.

  • Impact of research must have implications for higher education at the national or international level. Evaluated by utilization of research in presentations, policy, industry practice, and/or graduate-level programs.

  • Engagement with NASPA. Evaluated by breadth and depth of engagement across multiple opportunities within NASPA.

2024 Current Recipients

Past Recipients

2013 | Marilee J. Bresciani 
2012 | Jane Fried 
2011 | Gregory S. Blimling
2010 | Jon Dalton 
2010 | Shaun Harper 
2009 | Vasti Torres
2007 | Kathleen Manning
2006 | Susan R. Komives 
2005 | Gary M. Pavela
2004 | Melvin C. Terrell 
2003 | Roger B. Winston
2001 | Marylu McEwen
2000 | Arthur C. Sandeen
1999 | Ernie Suggs

1998 | Don Hossler 
1997 | Barbara E. Bender
1996 | M. Lee Upcraft 
1995 | Patrick T. Terenzini
1994 | Arthur E. Levine 
1993 | C. Robert Pace
1992 | John H. Schuh
1991 | Jacqueline Fleming 
1990 | Ursula Delworth 
1989 | Nancy K. Schlossberg
1988 | Ernest T. Pascarella
1987 | George D. Kuh 
1986 | Margaret J. Barr
1985 | Donald D. Gehring

1985 | Parker Young 
1984 | John M. Whiteley 
1983 | C. Gilbert Wrenn 
1982 | Jossey-Bas Publishers 
1981 | Howard R. Bowen 
1980 | Burns B. Crookston* 
1978 | Kate Hevner Mueller 
1977 | Change Magazine 
1977 | Ruth Strang* 
1976 | Alexander and Helen Astin 
1975 | Theodore M. Newcomb 
1975 | R. Nevitt Sanford 
1972 | K. Patricia Cross 
1968 | E.G. Williamson