CWAE Mentorship and Outreach Award

Purpose/Mission

The vast majority of awards in our profession reward accomplishments in research, teaching, and/or extension. While these are worthy areas of recognition, this CWAE award recognizes those individuals who have made our applied economics profession a more welcoming and supportive place. CWAE solicits nominations for two Mentorship and Outreach awards to recognize those individuals who have actively worked toward transforming institutions to enhance opportunity and belonging. These individuals support the success of peers, colleagues, mentees, students, and/or others by promoting their professional and personal growth, thus positively impacting society at large. This award also recognizes individuals who enhance opportunity and belonging through outreach and community building.

We will recognize two categories of individuals: those who have been in the profession for less than ten years (Early Career) and those who have been in the profession for ten or more years (Legacy). These can include both consecutive or nonconsecutive years of an appointment. Award recipients will be recognized annually at the CWAE luncheon at the AAEA Annual Meetings.

Previous Winners

Eligibility

• Any AAEA member.
• Any position in government, extension, non-profit or industry, including self-employed economic consultants, and academics (including, but not limited to, adjunct faculty, lecturers, instructors, clinical professors, professors of practice, and all other professional practitioners).
• Any level of academic qualification or career path are welcome (including non-traditional paths).
• Early Career: Less than ten years (consecutive or nonconsecutive) of active work experience since the year of completion of their highest degree.
• Legacy: Ten or more years (consecutive or nonconsecutive) of active work experience since the year of completion of their highest degree.

Evaluation/selection criteria for awards

Nominees will be evaluated based on the criteria below. We encourage nominations of individuals who aspire to meet these criteria even if they feel their contributions do not fully meet all of the criteria listed. Nominations will be reviewed by the CWAE Awards Subcommittee.

Evaluation criteria for Early career award

• Prioritizes the advancement of a welcoming society that empowers all individuals to be successful within their workplace and/or the profession
• Demonstrates positive impact on peers, colleagues, mentees, students, and/or others through their efforts to catalyze change for the benefit of society, at large
• Viewed as an emerging role model in promoting their peers, colleagues, mentees, students and/or others in their professional development and success

Evaluation criteria for Legacy award

• Prioritizes the advancement of a welcoming society that empowers all individuals to be successful within their workplace and/or the profession
• Demonstrates sustained positive impact on peers, colleagues, mentees, students, and/or others through their efforts to catalyze change for the benefit of society, at large
• Viewed as an established role model in promoting their peers, colleagues, mentees, students and/or others in their professional development and success
• Takes active leadership in fostering a culture of respect and belonging of all members of society within their workplace, department, university, organization, field, and/or the profession.
• Takes active leadership in promoting opportunity and access equally for all members of society within their workplace, department, university, organization, field, and/or the profession.

Examples of evaluation criteria

Examples of methods through which this work may have been achieved and which could be discussed in the nomination (not exhaustive):

• Advocacy for access to learning, resources, opportunities, and visibility in the profession.
• Promotion and/or mentoring of groups or individuals that facilitate equitable access to learning, resources, opportunities, and visibility in the profession.
• Service activities such as the development and championing of inclusive policies and processes.
• Research on topics such as disparities in outcomes and/or use of inclusive research methods such as community-based participatory research.
• Working on translational research that directly impacts communities that researchers work with.
• Inclusive teaching methods and curricula.
• Development of inclusive workshops or workspaces.
• Outreach and/or Extension programming that builds community, understanding, and empathy among stakeholders. 
• Outreach and/or Extension programming that provides information and technical assistance to historically underrepresented or undervalued stakeholders.

Submission Requirements

Nominations will be accepted from either of the following:

Case 1: Nominee (i.e., self-nomination)

Case 2: A group of 2 or more individuals from within or beyond the nominee’s organization

Case 1: Self-Nomination

In case of self-nomination, nomination package should consist of the following:

1. Nomination letter: A letter written by the nominee of no more than 2 single-spaced pages (Early Career award) or no more than 4 single-spaced pages (Legacy award) depicting why the candidate is deserving of this award. The nomination letter should describe the person’s contributions in line with the purpose of the award and provide sufficient support information to assess the candidate according to the evaluation criteria detailed above.
2. At least two recommendation letters: Two letters of no more than 2 single-spaced pages from colleagues, students, peers, or anyone else with firsthand knowledge of the nominee’s accomplishments and impacts. Letters should focus on the candidate’s contributions towards the objectives of the award and provide supporting information relevant to the outlined evaluation criteria. Letter writers are especially encouraged to speak to the candidate’s position as (or potential to become, particularly in the case of the junior award) a role model in the field within and/or beyond their institution and the professional community.
   1. We highly encourage at least one letter from junior peers, colleagues, or a community partner in the case of the Legacy award.
   2. If requested by recommenders, nominees can share the email of the Award Sub-Committee Chair, so that recommenders can send recommendations  directly to the Chair.

How to submit

Please create a PDF and send the Nomination letters to the  CWAE Awards Subcommittee Chair [Name, Email] by [submission date]. Please title the letters “CWAEAward_Year_Category_LastNameofNominee.pdf” and the email “CWAEAwards_Year_Category”. Senders will be notified of receipt of nominations.

Case 2 - Nominations by others

In case of nomination by others, nomination package should consist of a single PDF document containing:

1. Nomination letter: A letter from the nominating body of no more than  2 single-spaced pages (Early Career award) or no more than 4 single-spaced pages (Legacy award) depicting why the candidate is deserving of this award. The nomination letter should describe the person’s contributions in line with the purpose of the award and provide sufficient support information to assess the candidate according to the evaluation criteria detailed above. We encourage nominations from colleagues, students, peers, or anyone else with firsthand knowledge of the nominee’s accomplishments and impacts.
   1. If nominators are interested in using the Legacy award nomination letter as a lead-in to a submission for AAEA Fellow in a subsequent year, nominators are encouraged to read and follow the AAEA Fellow nomination guidelines, which are consistent with the guidelines for the Legacy award.
2. Additional Letters of recommendation: At least 1 more recommendation letter is required. This letter need not be more than 2 single-spaced pages.
   1. Nomination and recommendation letters should focus on the candidate’s contributions towards the objectives of the award and provide supporting information relevant to the outlined evaluation criteria. Letter writers are especially encouraged to speak to the candidate’s position as (or potential to become, particularly in the case of the Early Career award) a role model in the field within and/or beyond their institution and the professional community.
   2. We highly encourage at least one letter from junior peers or colleagues in the case of the Legacy award.

How to submit

Please create a single PDF of the nomination letter and recommendation letters and send the Nomination packets to CWAE Awards Subcommittee Chair [Name, Email] by the [submission date]. Please title the letters “CWAEAward_Year_Category_LastNameofNominee.pdf” and the email “CWAEAwards_Year_Category”. Senders will be notified of receipt of nominations.