CEP Founders’ Service Award

The CEP Founders’ Service Award recognizes a member of the ASHE community who demonstrates sustained and long-term service to CEP. Service refers to engagement in any activity that supports the goals and objectives of CEP and fosters inclusiveness within the ASHE community.

Nomination Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing nominations, the awards committee will make decisions based on the following preferred and demonstrated attributes:

• Active membership and involvement in CEP for at minimum 7 years

• Previous experience serving in a leadership position, in office, or on a committee for CEP

• Advances equity, inclusion, and social justice in CEP and the broader ASHE organization

• Evidence and service to the development of emerging scholars, practitioners, and/or administrators

Awards Timeline

• Early May: Awards Nominations Open

• June 30, 2025, 12:00pm Mountain/Denver Time: Awards Nominations close

• July-September: Committee review of nominations

• Late September: Notification to nominators of committee decisions

• Mid-October: Association-wide announcement of recipients

• 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:

• Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominator

• Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominee

• A nomination statement (no more than 500 words) that speaks to the nominee’s service to CEP and highlights the nominee’s dedication and commitment, fostering inclusiveness, length of involvement, type of activities, commitment, and/or making CEP a viable ASHE council.

• 2-3 letters of support (with at least one letter of recommendation from an ASHE member). For upload into the nomination form, these should be combined into one PDF document.

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.

The coordinating nominator, as well as the award nominee(s) (and subsequently recipient(s)), must be current members of ASHE.

Questions about the award process can be sent to awards@ashe.ws.

Past Recipients

2024: Lissa Ramirez-Stapleton

2023: Kandace Hinton

2021: Natasha N. Croom

2018: Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher

2017: Denise O'Neil Green

2016: D-L Stewart

2015: Frankie Santos Laanan

2014: Mitchell J. Chang

2012: Terrell L. Strayhorn & Mildred Garcia

2011: Estela Bensimon

2010: Kim Nehls

2009: Leonar "Len" Foster (posthumously)

2008: Kassie Freeman

2007: Berta Vigil Laden (posthumously) and Bonita Butner