EARLY CAREER AWARD

Purpose: The Early Career Award acknowledges and celebrates intellectual leadership through an emerging body of work that has begun to demonstrate broad and deep impact on the study and/or practice of service-learning and community engagement, including the communities, cultures, and systems within which it is undertaken.

Eligibility: Any scholar who has received a terminal degree in their discipline or profession within the past seven (7) years with an established and growing body of significant contributions, indicating promise for field-building. “Scholar” as used here encompasses those who self-define as “researchers,” “scholars,” or “practitioner-scholars” and does not imply any particular academic status.

Evaluation criteria

  1. Promising evidence of depth and breadth of high quality research and scholarship as indicated by significant question(s), robust use of (or development of) theoretical or conceptual frameworks, and innovative methods of inquiry and analysis in (a) one or more seminal works and (b) total body of work (including but not limited to traditional products and venues)

  2. Impact on research and scholarship as indicated by (a) role in shaping scholarship agendas locally, nationally, and/or internationally and (b) adoption and/or adaptation of their work by other scholars

  3. Impact on community engagement practice and/or policy as indicated by (a) contributions to conferences or other professional development venues, (b) record of teaching, mentoring, and collaborating with practitioners, and (c) creation and/or application of conceptual frameworks or tools that address challenges of practice

  4. Emerging leadership as indicated by (a) reputation (local, national, and/or international), (b) collaborative spirit, and (c) integrity to the principles of high-quality research and scholarship and of high-quality community engagement

  5. Plans for continuation of high-quality work that promises to make subsequent contributions to the field of study.

Nomination packet

  1. A nomination letter (not to exceed two pages) developed by academic colleagues, students, and/or community partners summarizing the nominee’s contribution and establishing their significance in advancing knowledge, deepening research and practice, and/or impacting policy (co-authored letters are welcome).

  2. Two letters of support (not to exceed one page each) attesting to the quality and impact of the nominee’s work (co-authored letters are welcome). We welcome letters of support from individuals/organizations most involved with or impacted by the scholar’s work.

  3. One publication or other scholarly product representative of the nominee’s work that addresses the award criteria

  4. A statement by the nominee (not to exceed two pages) articulating purposes, research procedures, outcomes, and future directions (optional)

  5. A current copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae.