Distinguished Social Sciences Emeriti Award

This prestigious award is an opportunity to honor eminent Social Sciences scholars, researchers, and instructors who continue to make major contributions in their fields as emeriti faculty.

The Division of Social Sciences boasts over 50 current emeriti faculty. The breadth of their interests, expertise, and involvement benefits not only UC Santa Cruz but extends far beyond the campus. Emeriti faculty may choose to explore different avenues of research after retirement or to delve even more deeply into the fields they have cultivated for decades. Continuing as members of the Academic Senate, their departments, and their academic communities, some are recalled to the university to teach, while many continue other forms of active service, contributing their experience, knowledge, and wisdom for the intellectual enrichment of the larger community.

The purpose of the Distinguished Social Sciences Emeriti Faculty Award is to increase awareness of the enormous value of emeriti faculty contributions and to recognize and honor all that the division’s emeriti give to the campus and their intellectual and civic communities.

The Distinguished Social Sciences Emeriti Faculty Award is presented to an emerita/emeritus faculty member who has excelled not only in her or his scholarly, educational, or creative endeavors during her or his career and retirement, but who has continued to make noteworthy and meritorious contributions to UC Santa Cruz and the broader community.

Previous winners of this award: 

• Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Carolyn Martin Shaw, 2022-23
• Professor Emerita of Politics, Isebill "Ronnie" Gruhn, 2021-22
• Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Craig Reinarman, 2020-21
• Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Diane Gifford-Gonzalez, 2019-20
• Professor Emeritus of Sociology, John Brown Childs, 2018-19
• Professor Emeritus of Education, Rodney Ogawa, 2017-18
• Professor Emerita of Psychology, Catherine Cooper, 2016-17
• Professor Emeritus of Economics, David Kaun, 2015-16
• Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Martin Chemers, 2014-15
• Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Adrienne Zihlman, 2013-14
• Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Elliot Aronson, 2011-12
• Professor Emeritus of Education, Art Pearl, 2010-2011
• Professor Emeritus of Psychology, M. Brewster Smith, 2009-10
• Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Sociology, G. William Domhoff, 2008-09
• Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Thomas Pettigrew, 2007–08
• Professor Emeritus of Community Studies and Sociology, Bill Friedland, inaugural award winner, 2006-07

Social Sciences alumni, staff, and faculty (including emeriti) are invited to nominate an emeritus or emerita professor for the Distinguished Social Sciences Emeriti Faculty Award. The nomination form is available here.  

Nominations for 2023-24 are due by 5p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2024.

Thank you very much for your assistance and participation in recognizing our most exemplary emeriti faculty!