Outstanding Contribution to Higher Education Award

Supporting the Profession
Award Type: national

This award is presented to an individual or organization that has provided ongoing dedicated service, consistent advocacy, and outstanding leadership to the entire higher education community on the national or international level.  The honoree will have made a meaningful and appreciable contribution to the issues and concerns affecting higher education over a significant period of time.

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

The 2025 Outstanding Contribution to Higher Education Award is accepting nominations from July 31, 2024 through October 9, 2024.

NOMINATE

Award Criteria

  • Advocates for student affairs within the higher education context, nationally or internationally. Evaluated by years of advocacy and scale of audience (campus, state/regional, national, international).

  • Has provided sustained service with meaningful impact on higher education. Evaluated by scale of impact (campus, state/regional, national, international).

  • Stands out amongst peers through their accomplishments and contributions over a significant period of time. All nominees must demonstrate accomplishments without inconsistency and not just recently.

2024 Current Recipient

Past Recipients

2014 | Jamie Merisotis
2013| Caryn McTighe Musil
2012 | Shannon Ellis
2012 | Enrique Iglesias Hidalgo
2011 | George R. Boggs
2010 | Patricia Fabiano 
2009 | Edward M. Kennedy
2008 | George D. Kuh
2007 | Myles Brand 
2006 | C. Peter Magrath 
2005 | James A. Anderson
2004 | Gale W. Erlandson
2003 | Sarita E. Brown 
2001 | Carlos Cortes

2000 | Margaret J. Barr
1999 | Alexander Astin
1998 | David Pierce 
1997 | Edgar F. Beckham 
1996 | Donald M. Stewart 
1995 | Russell Edgerton
1994 | Johnetta B. Cole 
1993 | Arnold L. Mitchem 
1992 | Ernest Boyer
1991 | Robert H. Atwell 
1990 | Clifton R. Wharton, Jr. 
1988 | Richard P. Keeling
1987 | Martha Peterson
1986 | Leonard H.O. Spearman 

1985 | A. Dallas Martin, Jr. 
1984 | Representative Carl Perkins
1983 | Senator Claiborne Pell
1982 | Father Theodore Hesburgh 
1981 | Rosemary Park
1980 | Elizabeth Greenleaf*
1979 | Emily Taylor 
1978 | Clark Kerr 
1977 | Roger W. Heyns 
1976 | Melvene D. Hardee
1974 | The Chronicle of Higher Education
1973 | Walter F. Johnson
1972 | Arthur Wright Chickering; Edith Green
1969 | Robert H. Shaffer