Awards Overview
The National Conference of Black Political Scientists awards are given each year to outstanding scholars, researchers, mentors, scholar-activists, and students. The following awards will be announced at the NCOBPS Award Banquet held at our Annual Meeting. Submissions should be made to the chairs noted below and in accordance with the guidelines and deadlines for each award.
Annual Awards are given for the following sections:
- W.E.B. Du Bois Distinguished Book Award | Keesha Middlemass and Keneshia Grant
- Rodney Higgins Best Faculty Paper Award | Jessica Carew
- Fannie Lou Hamer Outstanding Community Service Award | Emmitt Riley
- Anna Julia Cooper Teacher of the Year Award | Dorian Crosby
- Bayard Rustin Best LGBTQ+ Student Paper Award | Claire Crawford
- Sammy Younge Best Student Paper Award | Wendy Smooth
- Alex Willingham Best Political Theory Paper Award | Najja Baptist
- Lena Harris Stromile Student Leadership Award | Kathie Golden
- 2021 Hanes Walton, Jr. Award for Quantitative Methods Training | Jamil Scott and Ishmail White
Winners are selected by separate Awards Committee Divisions under the directive of the Awards Committee Chair pursuant to the policies and procedures in the NCOBPS Constitution and By-Laws (Chapter IV: Other Committees).
Three additional awards, established by separate foundations, are presented at the Annual Awards Program:
- The Jewel and James Prestage Mentorship Award | Kathie Golden
- Graduate Assistantship Program, Inc. (GAP) Scholarship | Kathie Golden
- The Dianne M. Pinderhughes Mentorship Legacy Award | Lorrie Frasure
The President-Elect serves as the Awards Committee Chair. S/he selects the Awards Section Head(s), responsible for the coordination and selection of recipients for the Annual Awards with the exception of the Jewel Limar Prestage Mentorship Award and Graduate Assistantship Program, Inc. (GAP) Scholarship.
Nominations & Submissions
For the 2026 awards, all nominations and supporting materials must be received on or before March 6, 2026. Nominations and all supporting information should be sent to kstromile@aol.com. Please look for an acceptance of applications email from WITHIN A WEEK OF SUBMISSION OF ALL DOCUMENTS.
The 57th Annual Meeting of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists is quickly approaching.
If you have not yet done so, now is the perfect time to complete your registration and secure your hotel accommodations. Reserving your room early ensures you receive the conference rate and stay at the center of the action throughout the meeting. Your participation strengthens the impact of NCOBPS and helps sustain the vibrant intellectual community that defines our organization. We want to see as many members as possible represented at this year’s gathering.
Thank you for your continued commitment to NCOBPS. We look forward to welcoming you at the 57th Annual Meeting.