The AAG Fellows

Nominations due: September 15, 2023

The AAG Fellows is a recognition and service program that recognizes geographers who have made significant contributions to advancing geography.

 AAG Fellow nominations can be submitted for two different general  categories: 1) Later-Career candidates have demonstrated a sustained track record of significant contributions to the discipline and the Association over the course of their career (that is, 15 years or more of professional experience); 2) Early/Mid-Career candidates are outstanding early to mid-career geographers (up to 15 years of professional experience) who are rising stars in the discipline, becoming known for creative, innovative and inclusive approaches in their area of  expertise, and involvement with the AAG. Regardless of the distinction made between the Later-Career and Early/Mid-Career candidates during the submission and selection process, all candidates who are selected for recognition under this program will simply and uniformly be referred to as “AAG Fellow.”

AAG Fellows will serve the AAG by contributing to AAG initiatives; advising on AAG strategic directions and grand challenges; by serving on AAG task forces or committees; and/or by mentoring early and mid-career faculty. Selected AAG Fellows should be prepared and willing to serve on an AAG Standing Committee (for example a three-year term of service), for instance. In addition, Fellows may be invited by the AAG Executive Director to contribute to the formulation of AAG Strategic Plans; to develop seminars, workshops, training sessions or other skill and knowledge-sharing events to benefit AAG members; they may be asked to test and provide feedback on new AAG services; or be asked to advise the AAG in developing ideas for new and/or improved offerings and services to broaden AAG membership and its community of partners.

The Executive Director will report annually to the Council at its Spring meeting on the ways in which they have engaged AAG Fellows in service to the AAG on activities such as (but not limited to) those exemplified above. The most recently appointed class of Fellows will have a standing invitation to an annual AAG Fellows Luncheon to be held in their honor at each in-person AAG Annual Meeting.

Akin to other scientific organizations, the honorary title of AAG Fellow is conferred for life. Once designated, AAG Fellows remain part of this ever-growing advisory body.

Nomination Guidelines

Nomination dossiers should be submitted by September 15 via a single, unrestricted,  bookmarked .PDF containing all the required materials to: grantsawards@aag.org with “AAG <<Early/Mid Career>> or <<Later-Career>> Fellow Nomination” in the subject line. For questions, please reach out to grantsawards@aag.org

Please submit a nomination letter, indicating which category the nomination is intended for (i.e., Later-Career or Early/Mid-Career) and the candidate’s CV. In addition to the letter of nomination (two-page limit), please submit at least two additional letters of support for the  nominee. Self-nominations are allowed and nominees may also decline this service award.

 Nomination letters should clearly address the significant contribution of the nominee to advancing geography as outlined above. Nomination letters should also clearly state how the candidate’s credentials might contribute to a particular current AAG initiative or strategic goal (e.g., diversity, equity and inclusion; membership retention and expansion; improving accessibility of AAG services, etc.) and what new ideas that particular nominee may bring to that AAG initiative. Additionally, nomination letters should explicitly address how the nominee is committed to (or has already demonstrated their commitment to) the principles and practices of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI).

The definition of contribution is to be interpreted broadly and to include service to the AAG; outstanding teaching and mentoring that impacts the profession; innovative administration in academe, government, and industry; novel and sustained research; efforts to sustain and advance justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the discipline, and outreach that communicates the importance and value of geography to the public.

In the case of nominations for Later-Career candidates, the definition of significant is exceptional and sustained, to denote that this is an extraordinary honor reserved for a limited number of members of the AAG who exhibit conspicuous merit.

The nominations are reviewed by the AAG Fellows Selection Committee, which is a volunteer committee. A final slate of Fellows nominees is presented by the Committee to the AAG Council at its annual Fall  meeting. The names put forward to the Council are accompanied by a statement from the Fellows Selection Committee indicating the contribution which forms the basis of the proposed award. The final decision for designating AAG Fellows rests with the Council.

Nominations for these awards are solicited in late spring and announcements are published in the AAG Newsletter and on the AAG’s social media platforms, along with electronic distribution to specialty and affinity groups, department chairs, all AAG members, and other interested parties.

As with all other AAG awards, eligibility also rests on the candidate being in compliance with the AAG Professional Conduct Policy. Nominations may be rescinded, and the award may also be revoked for any candidate or awardee who is found in violation of the AAG’s Professional Conduct Policy.

The annual deadline for nominations is September 15.

Eligibility

In making a nomination, please be aware that under current guidelines:

• No more than two tenths of one percent (0.2%) of AAG membership, or approximately 20 Fellows will be selected in any single year; of those, up to 10 can be selected from the Early/Mid-Career candidate pool.
•  Nominees must be AAG members if they are residents of the United States; if they reside elsewhere, the membership requirement is waived. In some cases, professionals from other disciplines or professions are eligible for consideration.
• Previous AAG Honorees (see https://www.aag.org/honors) are eligible for nomination under the Later-Career candidate category.
• Designation as an AAG Fellow is not awarded posthumously, unless the Fellow dies after the Council has voted on the award.
• Nomination dossiers will be automatically carried forward for one year after the initial nomination, unless the nominee (or the nominator) withdraws the name from consideration.
• The AAG strongly encourages nominators and selection committees to consider broad and inclusive criteria for AAG Fellows. Such criteria can include (but are not limited to): race, age, religion, creed, color, ancestry, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, disability, military or veteran status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and also institutional diversity (e.g., teaching institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and other Minority Serving Institutions, tribal institutions, research institutions, Associates’ degree granting programs, private sector organizations, government, non-profit organizations, etc.).
• As with all other AAG awards, eligibility also rests on the nominee being in compliance with the AAG Professional Conduct Policy. Nominations may be revoked, and the title of AAG Fellow may also be revoked for any candidate who is found in violation of this policy.

Fellows Committee

The AAG Fellows Selection Committee is comprised of volunteers from the AAG Membership, and AAG Fellows. The 2023 committee is comprised of Anne Chin, University of Colorado Denver; Doug Allen, Emporia State University; Jovan Lewis, UC Berkeley; David Butler, Texas State University; Daniel Block, Chicago State University; and Heike Alberts, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.