AIR Announces 2025 Award Recipients
The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 AIR Awards, which recognize excellence, service, scholarship, and leadership in the field of Institutional Research and higher education data. These awards honor individuals and teams whose contributions have shaped the profession and advanced the mission of data-informed decision-making across institutions. We celebrate each winner's remarkable impact and legacy.
AIR Rising Star Award
Recipient: Maria Lidia Ortiz Zamora
Institution: Smith College
Maria Lidia Ortiz Zamora has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 AIR Rising Star Award for her exemplary contributions to institutional research early in her career. A standout for her technical creativity, analytical skill, and visual communication acumen, Lidia has made a significant impact at Smith College and within the broader IR community. Her work ranges from program evaluation to streamlining institutional data practices and visualizing complex climate survey results—always with clarity, equity, and actionability in mind. Colleagues describe her as a thoughtful and tireless collaborator, positioning her as a future leader in the profession. View Letters of Nomination and Support (PDF)
Outstanding Service Award
Recipient: C. Ellen Peters
Institution: University of Puget Sound
C. Ellen Peters is the recipient of the 2025 AIR Outstanding Service Award in recognition of her enduring commitment to AIR and its mission. Ellen has served the AIR community with distinction in a variety of roles over the past two decades, including governance, professional development, and advocacy for equity and inclusion. Her leadership has helped shape both the strategic direction of the Association and the culture of collaboration among its members. Ellen’s colleagues highlight her unwavering dedication, mentorship, and deep belief in the transformative power of data in service to students. View Letters of Nomination and Support (PDF)
John Stecklein Distinguished Member Award
Recipient: Karen L. Webber
Institution: University of Georgia (Emerita)
Dr. Karen L. Webber has been named the 2025 recipient of the John Stecklein Distinguished Member Award, AIR’s highest honor. With a career spanning decades, Karen’s contributions to institutional research, higher education policy, and capacity-building are vast and enduring. Her work in data ethics, student success, and research methodology has advanced the field and mentored countless professionals along the way. A prolific scholar and generous collaborator, Karen’s leadership continues to influence IR practices across the globe. She is a true steward of the profession whose legacy will resonate for years to come. View Letters of Nomination and Support (PDF)
Charles F. Elton Best Paper Award
Recipient: Oceania in the Desert: A QuantCrit Analysis of the (Under) Counting of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Students at an AANAPISI-HSI
Authors:
This year’s Charles F. Elton Best Paper Award honors a groundbreaking contribution that explores equity and data justice through the lens of Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit). The paper reveals the ways in which Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students are systematically undercounted and rendered invisible in federal data collection practices. Through critical inquiry and data disaggregation, the authors powerfully advocate for more just and accurate representations of underserved student populations. Their work exemplifies the intersection of research, ethics, and advocacy that lies at the heart of institutional research.
AIR extends heartfelt congratulations to the 2025 award recipients. Their leadership, scholarship, and service enrich the field and inspire the AIR community to strive toward equity, excellence, and impact through data. Learn more about AIR Awards and past recipients at airweb.org/awards.