Arlene Kaplan Daniels Paper Award

Established in 2015, this award is made in recognition of a paper that addresses contemporary issues of women’s justice locally, nationally, and globally; brings a fresh perspective to women’s inclusion in global society and advances new theoretical directions discussing women and social justice; and is theoretically informed and possesses an empirical orientation.

Winner: 
Dr. Ranita Ray
, University of New Mexico

Past Winners

Beth B. Hess Memorial Scholarship 

The Beth B. Hess Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an advanced sociology Ph.D. student who began their study in a community college or technical school.

Winner: 
Torisha Khonach, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Honorable Mention: 
Tia Dickerson, Howard University

Torisha Khonach Tia Dickerson

Past Winners

C. Wright Mills Award

Established in 1964, this award is granted to a to the author of what the committee considers to be the most outstanding book written in the tradition of C. Wright Mills and his dedication to a search for a sophisticated understanding of the individual and society. 

2022 Winner (awarded in 2023):

Dr. Michael L. WalkerIndefinite: Doing Time in Jail
Oxford University Press


2022 Finalists

Past Winners

Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award

Established in 2015, this award is awarded annually is to an outstanding faculty member who has exercised an extensive leadership role within the SSSP and other professional societies and within the larger community.

Winner: 
Dr. Elizabeth Seton Mignacca, Cayuga Community College 

Past Winners

Indigenous Peoples' Social Justice Award

Established in 2020, this award is to an organization (preferably a Native American organization) doing social justice work on behalf of Indigenous Peoples in the city or metropolitan area hosting the annual meeting.

Winner: 
Native American House Alliance, Inc.

Past Winners

Joseph B. Gittler Award

Established in 2007 at the bequest of Joseph B. Gittler, this award is made in recognition of the significant scholarly achievements that a SSSP member has made in contributing to the ethical resolution of social problems.

Winner: 
Dr. William D. Cabin, New York University Silver School of Social Work and Hunter Silberman School of Social Work

Past Winners

Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award

Established in 2016, this award is given to an outstanding faculty member or community activist who recognizes the value of quality mentoring relationships between mentor and mentee and/or mentoring programs especially those for undergraduate or graduate students and/or for social activists, particularly for younger scholars and activists. 

Co-Winners: Janet M. Rankin, University of Calgary and Lin K. Huff-Corzine, University of Central Florida

Janet M. Rankin Lin K. Huff-Corzine

Past Winners

 Lee Founders Award

Established in 1981, this award is made in recognition of significant lifetime achievements demonstrating a devotion to the ideals of the founders of the Society and especially to the humanist tradition of Alfred McClung Lee and Elizabeth Briant Lee.

Winner: 
Dr. Frank Ridzi, Le Moyne College and Central New York Community Foundation

Past Winners         

Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship

Established in 1995, this award is given to two recipients who demonstrate significant achievements of active engagement with social problems, participation in social problem solutions, and advancement of knowledge through study, service and critical analysis.

Winner:
Venus Mary Green, University of Massachusetts Amherst 

Winner:
Jalia L. Joseph, Texas A&M University 

Venus Mary Green Jalia L. Joseph

Past Winners    

Social Entrepreneurship Paper Awards 

Thanks to sponsorship from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Society is pleased to announce two annual awards for promising research centering social entrepreneurship and innovation.

Winner: 
Dr. Meenal Rana, Cal Poly Humboldt; Beth Phelps, Oregon State University; Lonny Grafman, Cal Poly Humboldt

Student Winner:
Karina Santellano
, University of Southern California

Dr. Meenal Rana Beth Phelps Lonny Grafman Karina Santellano

Past Winners

Student Paper Competitions and Outstanding Scholarship Award Winners

Congratulations to the winners! The Student Paper Competitions and Outstanding Scholarship Awards are sponsored by the Divisions

Click here for a list of the 2023 Student Paper Competition and Outstanding Scholarship Award winners.

Abstracts for the 2023 Student Paper Competition winners and honorable mentions are available here.

Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award

Established in 1991, this award is presented to a local grassroots social justice organization in the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Census) in which the annual meeting is held that year.

Winner: 
Coalition for Restaurant Safety and Health

Past Winners