Outstanding Contribution to Higher Education Award

Supporting the Profession
Application Deadline: October 21, 2022 | Award Type: national

This award is presented to an individual or organization that has provided dedicated service, consistent advocacy, and outstanding leadership to the 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. 

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

Nominations have closed for the 2023 Outstanding Contribution to Higher Education Award.

2023 Current Recipient

National Outstanding Contribution Criteria

Required

  • Advocates for student affairs within the higher education context, nationally or internationally

Past Recipients


2021 | Terry Hartle and the ACE Government Relations Team
2020 | Inside Higher Ed
2019 | Stephanie J. Waterman, Onondaga, Turtle Clan
2018 | Dr. Michael Lomax
2017 | Eduardo J. Padrón
2016 | Sarita E. Brown
2015 | Walter Bumphus 
2014 | Linda Kuk
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 Chronicole of Higher Education
1973 | Walter F. Johnson
1972 | Arthur Wright Chickering; Edith Green
1969 | Robert H. Shaffer