Overview
The AIR Rising Star Award, newly launched in 2024, recognizes institutional research (IR) professionals who are early in their careers and are emerging leaders. The purpose of this award is to recognize a member’s potential to contribute to the field. Career progression is not necessarily an indicator that a person meets the criteria for this award and as such, demonstrated “evidence” of fit for this award will not necessarily be found through a recipient’s title escalation.
The recipient has:
- A maximum of seven years of experience in the profession.
- Demonstrated exemplary performance and contributions to the field, their institution’s IR function, or both.
- Made positive contributions to projects, initiatives, and/or publications that demonstrate noteworthy early achievement, the potential for ongoing achievement, and interest in advancing the field.
- Realized increasing levels of responsibility, formal and/or informal, internal and/or external to their institution.
- Been generous with their time and ideas, including willingness to engage and share through mentoring and/or collaborative activities within and/or beyond their institution.
Important Dates
- The deadline to submit nominations for 2025 recognition has passed. You may now submit nominations for the 2026 review cycle.
- The award committee will complete its work in March, at which time all nominees will be notified of the award selection.
- The awardee will be announced publicly in May.
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How to Nominate
A complete nomination packet must be submitted as a single PDF file via email, and include:
- A cover letter (two-page maximum) from the primary nominator*, who must be a current AIR member. The letter should describe the nominee’s contributions as an emerging leader and clearly address each of the criteria specified above.
- At least two—and up to five—letters of support, each expressing a unique perspective on the nominee’s eligibility. At least two of these letters of support must be from current AIR members. Please note that AIR staff may not contribute to award nomination packets.
- The nominee’s abbreviated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages).
- The nominee's contact information, including telephone number, email address, and mailing address.
- Up to one page of additional evidence will be accepted.
Email the nomination materials listed above to awards@airweb.org with the subject line "Nomination Packet: Rising Star Award."
*AIR will work with a primary nominator for each nominee. It is the primary nominator's responsibility to ensure the nomination packet is complete and that those supporting the nomination are apprised.
