Awards Committee

SSWR Awards Committee

The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) invites current members to apply for volunteer service on one of its standing committees for the February 1, 2026–January 31, 2029 governance term.

About the Awards Committee
The Awards Committee shall be a committee of the corporation and consist of at least four members. The chair of the Awards Committee shall be selected by the President and approved by the Board of Directors, from among the directors-at-large of the Board. The Committee membership will include the President, Committee chair, and two members of the Society, selected by the Committee chair and approved by the Board. The Committee shall be responsible for soliciting nominations and selecting awardees for all awards presented by the Society, with the exception of the Distinguished Career Achievement Award, which is the responsibility of the President. Subcommittees for each of the Society’s awards may be established by the chair of the Awards Committee. The awards subcommittees and their purpose are:

  • Book Award for Best Scholarly Book Published: The Society for Social and Work Research (SSWR) Book Award for the best scholarly book published was established to develop a formal mechanism to recognize outstanding social work contributions that advance knowledge with direct applications to practice, policy, and the resolution of social issues.
  • Excellence in Research Award: The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Excellence in Research Award for best scholarly  contribution was established to develop a formal mechanism to recognize outstanding social work research that advances knowledge with direct applications to practice, policy, and the resolution of social issues. The intent of the Excellence in Research Award is to recognize original scholarly contributions to the peer-reviewed research literature in a given year.
  • Social Policy Researcher Awards: The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Social Policy Researcher Awards honor social work researchers who have made outstanding contributions to social policy at the local, national, or international levels.
  • Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award: The purpose of the Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award is to recognize individuals who, in their early careers, have done innovative work and are making a notable influence in their field and the profession of social work. Their accomplishments should reflect innovative scholarship, a rigorous approach to social work research, scholarship which is attracting the interest of other scholars and work that exhibits an emerging influence in the field and their contribution to advancing the profession that is noteworthy. Preference will be given to nominees’ whose research and accomplishments reflect a rigorous analysis of processes and representations of marginalization, colonization, oppression, or privilege related to gender and gender presentation, race/ethnicity, culture, sexuality, class/caste, and/or ability (among others) as relevant to their substantive area.
  • Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award: The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award recognizes dissertations exemplifying high standards in social work research and scholarship. The award’s purpose is to encourage the design and conduct of quality research by doctoral-level social workers, recognize the authors of such studies, and provide these authors with a professional conference venue to present findings from their study.
  • Doctoral Fellows Award: The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) established the Doctoral Fellows Award to recognize and support doctoral students whose proposed dissertation research reflects innovative ideas and rigorous methodologies related to social work research, policy, or practice. Nominees’ proposed dissertation research should reflect a rigorous attunement to processes and lived conditions of marginalization, oppression, or privilege related to gender and gender presentation, race/ethnicity, culture, sexuality, class/caste, and/or ability (among others) as relevant to their substantive area.
  • Community-Research Partnership Award: The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Community-Research Partnership Award recognizes collaborative research between social work researchers and community partners, who work together to advance community science and address complex social problems. This award aligns with SSWR’s value of rigorous research that promotes a just and equitable society. This partnership-driven approach is vital in advancing community science and addressing the multifaceted social challenges of our time.

Committee Service Term: 3-year term (February 1, 2026 – January 31, 2029)
Number of available spots on each subcommittee:

  • Book Award for Best Scholarly Book Published (4)
  • Excellence in Research Award (7)
  • Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award (3)
  • Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award (7)
  • Doctoral Fellows Award (7)
  • Community-Research Partnership Award (3)

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:

    • Be a current SSWR member in good standing at the time of application and throughout the term of service
    • Demonstrate a commitment to SSWR’s mission and values
    • Possess relevant expertise aligned with the committee’s scope of work
    • Be available to actively participate in committee meetings and deliverables over the full term

Volunteer Expectations
Committee members are expected to:

  • Attend and actively participate in scheduled virtual committee meetings
  • Contribute to committee initiatives, deliverables, and assigned work products
  • Collaborate with fellow committee members and Board liaisons
  • Participate in periodic reporting of committee activities to the SSWR Board of Directors
  • When applicable, attend the SSWR Annual Conference to support committee-related programming or activities

Committee workload and meeting frequency vary by committee but generally require 3–5 hours per month, inclusive of meetings and asynchronous work.

Application and Selection Process
Interested members must submit:

  • Completed Committee Volunteer Application Form
  • Brief statement of interest outlining relevant experience and motivation for service

Committee appointments are made through a formal review process conducted by SSWR leadership and committee chairs, with final approval by the SSWR Board of Directors. The Society strives to ensure that committee composition reflects disciplinary breadth, methodological diversity, institutional representation, and member career stage.

Important Dates

  • Application Opens: March 24, 2026
  • Application Deadline: April 7, 2026
  • Appointment Notifications Issued: May 2026
  • Committee Term: February 1, 2026 – January 31, 2029

How to Apply
Please complete the Committee Volunteer Application Form available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/83XJGKS.

Questions
Please contact SSWR at info@sswr.org for any questions.

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