2026 Award, Fellowship, and Scholarship Winners
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.
Honorable Mention:
Dr. Upasana Garnaik, The University of Texas at Austin
Winner:
Mahbubeh Moqadam, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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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.
Honorable Mention:
Nahrissa Rush, The Ohio State University
Winner:
Asena Karipek, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
C. Wright Mills Award
Established in 1964, this award is granted 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.
2025 Winner (awarded in 2026):
Dr. Christina J. Cross, Inherited Inequality: Why Opportunity Gaps Persist between Black and White Youth Raised in Two-Parent Families, Harvard University Press
Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award
Established in 2015, this award is awarded annually 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. David G. Embrick, University of Connecticut
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:
Urban Indigenous Collective
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. Nancy A. Naples, University of Connecticut
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.
Winner:
Dr. Anthony A. Peguero, Arizona State University
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. David G. Embrick, University of Connecticut
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.
Honorable Mention:
Derek Wu, University of California, Berkeley
Winners:
Esperanza Padilla, University of California, San Francisco and Archana Ramanujam, Brown University
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 2026 Student Paper Competition and Outstanding Scholarship Award winners.
Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award
Established in 1991, this award is presented to a local grassroots social justice organization in the metropolitan area of the city in which the annual meeting is held that year.
Honorable Mention:
Centro Corona
Winner:
South Asian Survivors (Sakhi)
