AASCU Emerging Leaders Program, 2024–2025 A competitive cohort-based leadership development program administered by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, selected from nominations across AASCU member institutions. The program is designed specifically for faculty and administrators identified as candidates for senior academic leadership.
American Democracy Project Civic Fellow, 2019–2021 and 2022–2024 A competitive designation awarded by AASCU's American Democracy Project to faculty and administrators who have demonstrated sustained national leadership in campus civic engagement. Renewed for a second term to conduct research on ADP institutionalization across participating campuses.
Scholars Strategy Network Member, 2014–Present A national network of researchers committed to connecting academic scholarship to public policy and civic life.
President's Distinguished Scholar, Fort Hays State University, 2015–2016 The highest institutional scholarly recognition awarded by the FHSU president, given annually to a single faculty member. Finalist in the prior year, 2014–2015.
Master's II Faculty Designation, Fort Hays State University, 2010–2013 and 2015–2018 The highest level of scholarship recognition for graduate faculty at FHSU, awarded for sustained research productivity and graduate mentorship.
Excellence in Graduate Research Award, University of Missouri, 1997 and 2000 Awarded by the Department of Political Science at the University of Missouri, recognizing outstanding research by graduate students. Received twice, in 1997 and 2000, co-awarded with Steven E. Galatas.
Closing the Loop Award, Fort Hays State University, 2015 Institutional award recognizing exemplary use of assessment data to improve academic programs, awarded for departmental analysis of internship outcomes used to redesign course preparation and materials.
Advising Excellence Award, Radford University Office of Student Involvement, 2024 Awarded for outstanding faculty advising of student organizations.
Mortar Board "Top Prof" Award, Fort Hays State University, 2011 Student-nominated award recognizing FHSU's outstanding professor and advisor, selected by the Mortar Board honor society.
Honor Society "Honoring Our Faculty" Award, Fort Hays State University, 2011 Student-nominated recognition for faculty excellence.
Outstanding Professor, Interfraternity and Panhellenic Council, Fort Hays State University, 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 Student-nominated award presented by FHSU's Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils.
Pilot Award for Excellence in Teaching, Fort Hays State University — Finalist Four-time finalist for FHSU's primary institutional teaching award: 2007–2008, 2009–2010, 2012–2013, and 2013–2014.
Outstanding Service Award, Fort Hays State University, 2005
ALL IN Most Engaged Campus, Civic Nation, 2024 Awarded to Radford University under my leadership of the Campus Voter Team, recognizing the highest level of demonstrated student civic engagement among ALL IN participating institutions.
Highly Established Action Plan Designation, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, 2024–Present Recognition for Radford University's voter engagement planning and programming, reflecting the highest tier of ALL IN's action plan evaluation framework.
Voter Friendly Campus Designation, Campus Vote Project — Radford University Awarded across three consecutive election cycles: 2021–2022, 2023–2024, and 2025–2026. Previously earned at Fort Hays State University and the University of West Georgia under my campus coordination.
Best Public Affairs Program, Kansas Association of Broadcasters, 2011 Awarded to Talking Democracy, the public affairs television program I created and hosted at Fort Hays State University in partnership with KFHS-TV and the American Democracy Project.
Nominations for competitive awards are listed here because they reflect institutional peer recognition even when the award was not ultimately conferred.
Nominee, Radford University Foundation Distinguished Creative Scholar Award, 2024
Nominee, Radford University College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences Distinguished Scholar Award, 2024