American Association of Geographers American Association of Geographers
  • Community
    • Specialty & Affinity Groups
    • Groups
    • Awards & Grants
    • Regional Divisions
    • Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
    • Memorials
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Membership
    • Governance
    • Donate
    • Sponsorship & Advertising
  • Professional Journey
    • Career Planning
    • Find Jobs
    • Post Jobs
    • Student Opportunities
    • Guide to Geography Programs & Opportunities
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Webinars
    • Annual Meeting
  • Knowledge
    • Resource Hub
    • Journals
  • Advocacy
American Associaton of Geographers American Associaton of Geographers
  • Community
    • Specialty & Affinity Groups
    • Groups
    • Awards & Grants
    • Regional Divisions
    • Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
    • Memorials
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Membership
    • Governance
    • Donate
    • Sponsorship & Advertising
  • Professional Journey
    • Career Planning
    • Find Jobs
    • Post Jobs
    • Student Opportunities
    • Guide to Geography Programs & Opportunities
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Webinars
    • Annual Meeting
  • Knowledge
    • Resource Hub
    • Journals
  • Advocacy

Geography is what we all have in common

  • Log In
  • Join
  • SEARCH
  • About
  • Elgibility
  • Criteria
  • Nominations
  • Submissions
  • Selections
  • Recipients
See All Awards

The AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

Deadline: September 15, 2023

The AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring award is given annually to an individual geographer, group, or department who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in building supportive academic and professional environments in their departments, associations, and institutions and guiding the academic and or professional growth of their students and junior colleagues. It is named in honor and memory of the late Susan Hardwick, the inaugural recipient of this award and a beloved mentor, scholar and colleague.
Nominations are sought to recognize individuals, groups, or departments who have increased the number of students and faculty from underrepresented groups, improved the quality of their participation in geography or who have impacted the climate of a department, college, or institution toward greater inclusion. Self nominations are also welcomed.

The Awardee(s) will be invited to participate in an interview or contribute a publication for Journal of Geography in Higher Education that identifies and promotes specific mentoring practices that are replicable, effective and highly valued in order for these actions to be shared with the broader AAG community.

Eligibility: 

Individual geographers, groups, or departments are eligible for nomination. Nominations from a wide spectrum of mentors in the geography community are encouraged, including from academic, public, private, and non-profit sectors. The relationship may be between mentor and students or mentor and junior faculty or employees. Posthumous nominations are generally not accepted.

Criteria: 

The award will honor individuals, groups, or departments who consistently do one or more of the following:

  1. Have succeeded in establishing formal, informal, or quasi formal channels for providing support to students, junior faculty and/or employees
  2. Help to create a vital and engaged geography community at their home Institution or association.
  3. Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and to the particular advising and mentoring needs of individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups.
  4. Have developed and carried out specific practices that are replicable, effective and highly valued.

Nominations: 

To make nominations for the AAG Excellence in Mentoring Award, include the complete name and address of the nominee, curriculum vitae for the nominee (if the nominee is an individual geographer), and a concise (500 words maximum) yet specific description of the accomplishments that warrant selection according to the above criteria. No more than three (3) supporting letters from other individuals (including mentees) must also be submitted. (Self-nominations are accepted with supporting letters from mentees). The strongest applications will feature at least one supporting letter from a senior colleague. The deadline for receipt of nominations is September 15.

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.

Submissions: 

Please gather all required supporting documents before completing the online Application Form at this link. The Application Form will require you to upload all supporting documents before being able to complete your submission. You cannot save a partially completed form and return to it later, so it is important to have all materials ready before accessing the online Application Form. For questions or difficulties, please contact grantsawards@aag.org or call the AAG at 202-234-1450. Alternately, hard copy of nominations can be sent to: Association of American Geographers, Attn: AAG Excellence in Mentoring Award, 1710 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-3198.

Selections: 

Nominations for The AAG Excellence in Mentoring Award will be reviewed jointly by the AAG Enhancing Diversity Committee and the Committee on the Status of Women in Geography. A single awardee will be recommended to be approved by the AAG Council at their Fall meeting. No monetary prize is provided. Awards are presented at the Awards Luncheon during the AAG’s Annual Meeting.

AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award Recipients

Go back

Mauris non tempor quam, et lacinia sapien. Mauris accumsan eros eget libero posuere vulputate. Etiam elit elit, elementum sed varius at, adipiscing vitae est. Sed nec felis pellentesque, lacinia dui sed, ultricies sapien. Pellentesque orci lectus, consectetur vel posuere.

1
2022

David Lopez-Carr

David Lopez-Carr, UC Santa Barbara, for his demonstrated outstanding leadership in creating effective, structured mentorship avenues and for his clear, intentional work to diversify the discipline.

1
2022 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

David Lopez-Carr

2022 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

David Lopez-Carr, UC Santa Barbara, for his demonstrated outstanding leadership in creating effective, structured mentorship avenues and for his clear, intentional work to diversify the discipline.

1
2021

Hilda Kurtz

2021 Hilda Kurtz of the University of Georgia has mentored her students with hands-on facilitation of quality research papers and proposals with a high track record of funding success. Through journal editorship, she has mentored diverse early career scholars in academic publishing. She also co-founded the Franklin College Diversity and Inclusion Graduate Fellows Program, which establishes a local community of engagement around social justice. Kurtz has also developed a workshop series focused on work-life balance, emphasizing job market preparation and tanglible skills for success in academe, which have been forally integrated into the Geography Department’s required first year graduate student seminar.

1
2021 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

Hilda Kurtz

2021 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

2021 Hilda Kurtz of the University of Georgia has mentored her students with hands-on facilitation of quality research papers and proposals with a high track record of funding success. Through journal editorship, she has mentored diverse early career scholars in academic publishing. She also co-founded the Franklin College Diversity and Inclusion Graduate Fellows Program, which establishes a local community of engagement around social justice. Kurtz has also developed a workshop series focused on work-life balance, emphasizing job market preparation and tanglible skills for success in academe, which have been forally integrated into the Geography Department’s required first year graduate student seminar.

1
2020

Dr. Jeffery Roth

2020
Dr. Jeffery Roth of Stephen F. Austin State University is an excellent mentor, who advises students from a variety of backgrounds. He has demonstrated commitment to supporting students both professionally and personally, thus embodying the exemplary legacy of the late Susan Hardwick. Dr. Roth has served as Geography Club advisor, he continues to create lifelong learners, has received teaching awards, and actively participates, and encourages students to participate in, community activities. It is clear that Dr. Roth has shaped the lives of faculty, students, and members of the community in remarkable ways.

1
2020 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

Dr. Jeffery Roth

2020 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

2020
Dr. Jeffery Roth of Stephen F. Austin State University is an excellent mentor, who advises students from a variety of backgrounds. He has demonstrated commitment to supporting students both professionally and personally, thus embodying the exemplary legacy of the late Susan Hardwick. Dr. Roth has served as Geography Club advisor, he continues to create lifelong learners, has received teaching awards, and actively participates, and encourages students to participate in, community activities. It is clear that Dr. Roth has shaped the lives of faculty, students, and members of the community in remarkable ways.

1
2019

Lorraine Dowler

2019
Lorraine Dowler not only mentors at all levels, but is a strong advocate for her mentees. She is committed to the holistic development of her advisees (students or colleagues), and pays particular attention to the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of those with whom she interacts, especially new faculty learning to balance academia. Dr. Dowler’s advocacy of students and colleagues goes above and beyond the criteria listed for this AAG award. Besides her tireless advocacy for students and colleagues, she also continues to advise, research, publish, and contribute to the field of geography. For the qualities and characteristics that Dr. Dowler puts forth, and for her genuine concern for all those that work with her, she is a most deserving recipient of this award.

1
2019 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

Lorraine Dowler

2019 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

2019
Lorraine Dowler not only mentors at all levels, but is a strong advocate for her mentees. She is committed to the holistic development of her advisees (students or colleagues), and pays particular attention to the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of those with whom she interacts, especially new faculty learning to balance academia. Dr. Dowler’s advocacy of students and colleagues goes above and beyond the criteria listed for this AAG award. Besides her tireless advocacy for students and colleagues, she also continues to advise, research, publish, and contribute to the field of geography. For the qualities and characteristics that Dr. Dowler puts forth, and for her genuine concern for all those that work with her, she is a most deserving recipient of this award.

1
2018

David Kaplan

2018
David Kaplan 
of Kent State University is an exceptional mentor, serving as principal advisor to over 20 master’s thesis student committees and 11 PhD student committees, as well as serving on the committees of dozens of other student projects. Recent advisees refer to him as a “lifelong advisor” who has “enduring and genuine concern” for his students. In addition, his support of junior peers at his institution and elsewhere speaks to his commitment to offer sound counsel and valuable advice to others to advance their academic and professional paths. Kaplan’s extraordinary dedication and service to his department, institution and the AAG exemplify the many ways that he is committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in geography.

1
2018 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

David Kaplan

2018 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

2018
David Kaplan 
of Kent State University is an exceptional mentor, serving as principal advisor to over 20 master’s thesis student committees and 11 PhD student committees, as well as serving on the committees of dozens of other student projects. Recent advisees refer to him as a “lifelong advisor” who has “enduring and genuine concern” for his students. In addition, his support of junior peers at his institution and elsewhere speaks to his commitment to offer sound counsel and valuable advice to others to advance their academic and professional paths. Kaplan’s extraordinary dedication and service to his department, institution and the AAG exemplify the many ways that he is committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in geography.

1
2017

Beverly Mullings

2017
Beverly Mullings is a trailblazer in supporting mental health in academia through both her purposeful, strategic, and actionable advice to the people she supports and platforms she has built for individuals who have been afraid to speak out about mental health. Through her creation of a list serve on mental health and the academy and kickstarting the AAG’s mental health initiative she has been a persistent advocate for those most marginalized in our discipline. Dr. Mullings has also been integral in revitalizing both the Gender Studies program at Queen’s University and the Journal of Critical Race Inquiry.

1
2017 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

Beverly Mullings

2017 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

2017
Beverly Mullings is a trailblazer in supporting mental health in academia through both her purposeful, strategic, and actionable advice to the people she supports and platforms she has built for individuals who have been afraid to speak out about mental health. Through her creation of a list serve on mental health and the academy and kickstarting the AAG’s mental health initiative she has been a persistent advocate for those most marginalized in our discipline. Dr. Mullings has also been integral in revitalizing both the Gender Studies program at Queen’s University and the Journal of Critical Race Inquiry.

1
2016

Kenneth E. Foote

2016
Kenneth E. Foote, 
in recognition of his career-long dedication to being a mentor, but also in helping other to be successful mentors themselves. He has worked diligently to mentor department chairs and other leaders. He has tirelessly promoted and encouraged colleagues along their career paths, and he has been particularly committed to sharing effective means of mentoring graduate students and faculty. He was co-leader of the AAG’s Enhancing Departments and Graduate Education (EDGE) programs, and for more than 10 years he has organized and hosted Graduate Faculty Development Alliance workshops and Department Leadership workshops.

1
2016 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

Kenneth E. Foote

2016 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

2016
Kenneth E. Foote, 
in recognition of his career-long dedication to being a mentor, but also in helping other to be successful mentors themselves. He has worked diligently to mentor department chairs and other leaders. He has tirelessly promoted and encouraged colleagues along their career paths, and he has been particularly committed to sharing effective means of mentoring graduate students and faculty. He was co-leader of the AAG’s Enhancing Departments and Graduate Education (EDGE) programs, and for more than 10 years he has organized and hosted Graduate Faculty Development Alliance workshops and Department Leadership workshops.

1
2015

Susan Hardwick

2015

Susan Hardwick has, throughout her long and meritorious career, served as primary mentor or advisor to countless graduate and undergraduate students, as well as supporting K-12 geography teachers in Oregon, Texas, California and elsewhere. Through her service within the AAG and other professional organizations, she has contributed greatly to the mentoring of junior faculty members and graduate students. She has helped many young people enter into and pursue rewarding paths within our discipline, and has been an especially valuable mentor to women in geography. Besides directly mentoring women in the discipline, she has also worked to raise awareness of the experiences of women as they seek to become successful in their careers as geographers.

1
2015 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

Susan Hardwick

2015 AAG Susan Hardwick Excellence in Mentoring Award

2015

Susan Hardwick has, throughout her long and meritorious career, served as primary mentor or advisor to countless graduate and undergraduate students, as well as supporting K-12 geography teachers in Oregon, Texas, California and elsewhere. Through her service within the AAG and other professional organizations, she has contributed greatly to the mentoring of junior faculty members and graduate students. She has helped many young people enter into and pursue rewarding paths within our discipline, and has been an especially valuable mentor to women in geography. Besides directly mentoring women in the discipline, she has also worked to raise awareness of the experiences of women as they seek to become successful in their careers as geographers.

See All Awards
    Share
American Association of Geographers
  • Community
    • Specialty & Affinity Groups
    • Groups
    • Awards & Grants
    • Regions
    • JEDI
    • Memorials
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Membership
    • Governance
    • Donate
    • Sponsors & Ads
  • Professional Journey
    • Career Planning
    • Find Jobs
    • Post Jobs
    • Student Opportunities
    • The Guide
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Webinars
    • Annual Meeting
  • Knowledge
    • Resource Hub
    • Journals
    • FAQs
  • Advocacy
    • Contact Us
    • Leave Feedback

© 2023 American Association of Geographers. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use, Cookies and Privacy Policies

Register for Free

Create an account to get free access to exclusive AAG content.

Sign Up

Already have an account? Log In here.

Sorry, this is only available for AAG members

JOIN US TO GET ACCESS TO JOURNALS & MORE

AAG Members get exclusive access to publications, prominent journals, unique advocacy, grant, scholarship and professional opportunities with access to industry focus communities, and event discounts, including our annual meeting.

Become a Member

Already have an account? Log In here.

This appears to be restricted content.

You can still get access

Some content may only be accessible if you belong to specific Specialty or Affinity Groups. You can still update your membership below. You will need to go through the Join flow, but you do not need to repurchase your membership unless it is expired or about to expire.

Update Membership

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}