Overview

Each year, AIR recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the success of the association and the profession through their leadership, service, and scholarship.

The 2026 award nomination process has closed. Awardees will be recognized on the AIR website, in an issue of eAIR, and at the AIR Forum this spring.

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Awards

Edward L. Delaney, Jr. Rising Star Award & Scholarship

Recognizes institutional research (IR) professionals who are early in their careers and are emerging leaders.

Program Overview

John Stecklein Distinguished Member Award

Recognizes a member whose professional career has significantly advanced the field of institutional research through extraordinary scholarship, leadership, and service.

This award is only offered to current AIR members.

Program Overview

Outstanding Service Award

Recognizes a member for professional leadership and exemplary service to AIR, and may be bestowed posthumously.

This award is only offered to current AIR members.

Program Overview

Sidney Suslow Scholar Award

Recognizes an individual who, through scholarly work, has made significant contributions to the field of institutional research and advanced understanding of the profession in a meaningful way.

Program Overview

Charles F. Elton Best Paper Award

Celebrates the scholarly paper that best exemplifies the standards of excellence established by the award's namesake and that makes significant contributions to the fields of IR, IE, or Assessment.

Program Overview

2026 Awardees

Not Just Another Climate Survey: Leading a Change-Oriented Survey Administration

Emily Braught, Megan Palmer, Christen Priddie, and Amy Ribera, Indiana University


Selection Process

Each year, the Awards Review Committees assess nominations with award-specific rubrics and criteria that were developed by the AIR Board of Directors in order to recommend whether to bestow awards and to whom. The committees align on the rubric and rating scale, review nominations individually, and then meet to finalize recommendations. The committees complete their work in March, at which time all nominees will be notified of the award selections. The awardees are announced publicly in May.

How Awardees Are Recognized

Each Awardee will:

  • Receive a congratulatory letter from the AIR Executive Director and President.
  • Be copied on a letter to the institution/employer president from the AIR Executive Director and President.
  • Be recognized on the AIR website, in an issue of eAIR, and at the AIR Forum.
  • Receive an award plaque.
  • Receive complimentary AIR Forum registration in the year recognized.
  • Best paper recipients are provided a slot at the AIR Forum to present their research.

Have an idea for a new award?

Review the procedures PDF.

Download PDF

Award FAQs

  • Q: Can you nominate yourself for an award?
    A: Yes!
  • Q: Do you have to be a current AIR member to receive an award?
    A: Some of AIR’s awards are member only. Visit awards for more information.  
  • Q: Does AIR accept new award ideas?
    A: Yes! If you have a new AIR award idea, review the procedures PDF. Proposals must be received by July 1 of a given year to be considered for implementation at the following AIR Forum. 
  • Q: How are awardees recognized?

    A: (1) Recipients will receive a congratulatory letter from the AIR Executive Director and President. 

    (2) Each awardee's institution president will receive a letter from the AIR Executive Director and President. 

    (3) Recipients' acceptance letters and letters of support will be published on the AIR website. 

    (4) An announcement will be included in an issue of eAIR.  

    (5) Awardees will be recognized during the annual AIR Forum conference. 

    (6) Awardees will receive official award plaques. 

  • Q: How do you nominate a candidate for an award?
    A: Each award has its own nomination instructions. Visit the program overview of awards for more information. 
  • Q: What criteria must be met to receive an award?
    A: Each award has its own specific criteria for candidates. Visit the program overview of awards for more information.  
  • Q: What is the award selection process?
    A: Each year, the Awards Review Committee assesses nominations against award-specific rubrics and criteria that were developed by the AIR Board of Directors in order to recommend whether to bestow awards and to whom. The committee aligns on the rubric and rating scale, reviews nominations individually, and then meets to finalize recommendations. Depending on the committee's schedule, this can sometimes take through the end of February or into early March. 
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