Call for Nominations – CWAE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards

Spring 2022
Purpose/Mission
The vast majority of awards in our profession reward accomplishments based on research, teaching, and/or extension accomplishments. While these are worthy areas of recognition, CWAE would like to also recognize those individuals who have made our profession a more welcoming and supportive place for all who strive to be applied economists. To this end, we have created two awards to recognize those individuals who have actively worked to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (as defined by the Association of American Colleges and Universities) and who have had a positive impact on students, colleagues, and the culture of their departments and our profession. We will recognize two categories of individuals: those who have been in the profession for less than ten years and those who have been in the profession for ten or more years (consecutive or nonconsecutive). Award recipients will be recognized annually at the CWAE/COSBAE annual luncheon at the AAEA Annual Meetings.

Eligibility

• Any AAEA member
• Academic, government, non-profit or industry, including self-employed economic consultants and contingent faculty
• Any career path welcome (including unique and non-traditional paths)
• Junior: Less than ten years (consecutive or nonconsecutive) of active work experience as an economist
• Senior: Ten or more years (consecutive or nonconsecutive) of active work experience as an economist

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 to diversity, equity and inclusion do not fully meet all of the criteria listed. Nominations will be reviewed by the CWAE Awards Subcommittee.

Evaluation criteria for junior award:

• Public advancement and prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion within their workplace and/or the profession
• Demonstrated initial positive impact on students, peers, their employer culture, stakeholders and/or the profession through their efforts to catalyze change in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Viewed as an emerging role model in diversity, equity and inclusion work by their peers, colleagues, mentees, students or others 

Evaluation criteria for senior award:

• Public advancement and prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion within their workplace and/or the profession
• Demonstrated sustained positive impact on students, peers, their employer culture, stakeholders and/or the profession through their efforts to catalyze change in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Viewed as an established role model in diversity, equity and inclusion work by their peers, colleagues, mentees, students or others
• Takes active leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within their workplace, department, university, organization, field, and/or the profession.

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

• Advocacy for equitable 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 or discrimination or use of inclusive research methods such as community-based participatory research
• Inclusive teaching methods and curricula
• Development of inclusive workshops or workspaces
• Outreach and/or Extension programming that educates people about diversity, equity and inclusion or provides information and technical assistance to historically underrepresented or undervalued stakeholders
• Any other activities that promote diversity, equity and inclusion 

Submission Requirements

Nominations will be accepted from either of the following:

1. Nominee (i.e., self-nomination)
2. A group of 2 or more individuals from within or beyond the nominee’s organization

In case of self-nomination, nomination package should consist of a single PDF document (excluding recommendation letters) containing:

Nomination letter: A letter written by the nominee of up to 2 single-spaced pages (junior award) or 4 single-spaced pages (senior 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. The nomination letter should include the names and e-mail addresses of two additional recommenders.

Biography: A biography of the nominee no more than 2 single-spaced pages in length emphasizing current and past achievements in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion, and should provide documentation of the number years of consecutive or non-consecutive active work experience as an economist to support consideration for the appropriate award. 

Two recommendation letters: Two letters (in addition to the nomination letter) of no more than 2 single-spaced pages each from colleagues, students, peers, or anyone else with firsthand knowledge of the nominee’s accomplishments and impacts in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion aside from the nominating committee. We encourage letters from diverse perspectives, including recommendations by a junior peer or colleague in the case of the senior award. 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. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly by the recommenders to the CWAE Awards Subcommittee Chair (see e-mail address below).

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

Nomination letter: A letter from the nominating body of up to 4 single-spaced pages 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. The nomination letter should include the names of all people involved in preparing the nomination. If nominators are interested to use the senior 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.

Biography: A biography of the nominee no more than 2 single-spaced pages in length emphasizing current and past achievements in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion, and should provide documentation of the number years of consecutive or non-consecutive active work experience as an economist to support consideration for the appropriate award.

Letters of recommendation: Letters of recommendation are not required in this case, as it is assumed the recommendations will be integrated into the nomination letter.

Nomination packets and letters of recommendation (self-nominations only) should be submitted to Valentina Hartarska (Chair, CWAE Awards Subcommittee) by March 21, 2022 at: aaea.cwae@gmail.com. Senders will be notified of receipt.