UAA Awards – Nomination & Application Forms Open (deadline=10/1/24)

Dear UAA Community,

We are pleased to announce the launch of the application/nomination forms for the 2025 Urban Affairs Association (UAA) awards.

  • A brief description of each award is provided below.
  • Full descriptions, including award benefits & nomination instructions, are available on the UAA website.
  • You must be a current UAA member to nominate someone for an award. 
  • NOMINATION DEADLINE: 10/1/24 at 11:59pm CDT

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]


Alma H. Young Emerging Scholar Award

The annual award is given to a promising Ph.D. candidate or early career researcher whose work demonstrates a commitment to rigorous and impactful research and service. Applicants must: 1) have finished their coursework; 2) be making good progress towards the completion of their dissertation; and 3) the nominee (OR the nominator) must hold a UAA membership. Additionally, Recent doctoral graduates who have attained their degree within the past four years (i.e., earned degree in 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024) are eligible. Read more.

Best Book in Urban Affairs Award

This annual award is given to a book that is well-written and based on rigorous research on an urban issue(s) within any national context. Only digital copies of nominated books will be accepted. Read more.

Community Activist Award

This award recognizes individuals (in the Vancouver Metropolitan Area – the site of the 2025 conference) who have played an ongoing role working on behalf and in partnership with urban communities within the state, particularly around issues of social, political, environmental and economic equity. Nominations may be made by UAA members in the metropolitan area of the conference site (Vancouver Metropolitan Area), as well as from members of the Local Host Committee. Read more.

Contribution to the Field of Urban Affairs Award

This award honors an individual whose body of work has contributed to defining the field and furthering the intellectual and professional development of emerging scholars. Read more.

Janet Smith Emerging Activist-Scholar Research Award (sponsored by The Voorhees Family and Individual Donors)

This annual award recognizes a promising Ph.D. candidate or early career researcher whose research record shows a direct relationship between activism, scholarship, and engagement with community(ies). Applicants must: 1) have finished their coursework; 2) be making good progress towards the completion of their dissertation; and 3) the nominee (OR the nominator) must hold a UAA membership. Additionally, Recent doctoral graduates who have attained their degree within the past four years (i.e., earned degree in 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024) are eligible. Read more.

Marilyn J. Gittell Activist Scholar Award 

This annual award is designed to focus on the research of an individual who is, or has been, engaged in field-based research in an urban context (anywhere in the world). The research would ideally incorporate direct engagement with local community-based organizations and/or local residents around a policy area of high importance. Read more.

Mary Helen Callahan Distinguished Service Award

This award is given on a periodic basis to an individual who has provided an outstanding record of service to UAA and/or the field of urban affairs. Nominees should be individuals who have distinguished themselves in one or more of the following areas: 1) exceptional and impactful service to the Urban Affairs Association; 2) engagement outside the academy; or 3) distinguished professional service that advances the work of urban affairs practitioners. Read more.

Scott Cummings Distinguished Editorial Service Award

The award seeks to highlight the service contributions of persons who play editorial roles. Editorial roles include editor, managing editor, associate editors, book review editor, social media editor, editorial manager, editorial board member, and reviewers. Nominations may be made by current and past members of UAA publications’ editorial boards, editors, and Publications Committee members. Read more.


Other Awards

Best Article Published in the Journal of Race, Ethnicity & the City Award (sponsored by UAA & Routledge | Taylor & Francis)

Only articles accepted by the Journal of Race, Ethnicity and the City and published between 2023 and 2024 volume years are eligible for the 2024-2025 awards cycle. This award will be presented to the author(s) of the article selected by a special committee appointed by the Governing Board Chair. Read more.

Best Article Published in the Journal of Urban Affairs Award (sponsored by UAA & Routledge | Taylor & Francis)

Only papers accepted by the Journal of Urban Affairs and published in the 2023 volume are eligible. This award will be presented to the author(s) of the article selected by a special committee appointed by the Governing Board Chair. Read more.

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