Robert H. Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member

Supporting the Profession New Professionals and Graduate Students Faculty
Award Type: national

Established in 1986, this award, named for a Dean and Professor Emeritus at Indiana University, is presented to a tenured, full-time faculty member in a graduate preparation program in student affairs. Each Robert H. Shaffer Award recipient has inspired graduate students and served on doctoral dissertation committees; has a distinguished record of scholarly achievement, including publication in relevant literature; and has made significant contributions to professional associations.

The 2025 Robert H. Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member is accepting nominations from July 31, 2024 through October 9, 2024.

NOMINATE

Award Criteria

  • Sustained career as a full-time teaching faculty in student affairs graduate preparation program. All nominees must have 10+ years as a full-time (tenure-preferred) professor/instructor in student affairs higher education programs.

  • Responsible for teaching graduate or professional school students who generally pursue careers in higher education administration and student affairs. All nominees must teach graduate students annually who generally pursue careers in higher education administration and student affairs.

  • Consistent and excellent mentorship of graduate students. Evaluated by few to numerous graduate students and continued involvement as mentor into their careers.

  • Solid record of scholarly achievement in appropriate journals, publications, and conference presentations, and/or creative activities (i.e. articles, creative works, co-edited books, solo edited books, book chapters, white and policy papers, etc.). Evaluated by number of examples and variety of outlets.

  • Significant contributions to professional associations, including NASPA. Evaluated by breadth and depth of engagement across multiple opportunities within NASPA or other professional organization.

  • Establishes a culture of engagement in professional associations, including NASPA, as foundational to professional development of graduate students. All nominees should support program submission, speaking engagements, and publication as essential to professional development.

2024 Current Recipient

Past Recipients

 

2015 | Thomas Miller
2014 | Marilyn Amey 
2013 | Deborah J. Taub 
2012 | Shaun Harper
2011 | Jan L. Arminio 
2010 | Susan R. Jones
2009 | Raechele L. Pope 
2008 | Joan B. Hirt 
2007 | Mary Howard-Hamilton
 

2006 | John H. Schuh 
2005 | Dudley B. Woodard, Jr. 
2004 | Susan R. Komives
2003 | Terry Williams 
2002 | Marcia Baxter Magolda 
2001 | Daniel Robinson 
1999 | Karen D. Arnold
1998 | Don Creamer
1997 | Albert B. Hood 

1996 | Larry H. Ebbers
1995 | Patricia M. King 
1994 | George D. Kuh 
1993 | Robert D. Brown 
1992 | Theodore Miller; Esther M. Llyod Jones*
1990 | Donald Gehring
1989 | Gerald L. Saddlemire 
1988 | Melvene D. Hardee 
1987 | Louis Stamatakos