History and Overview

In 2025, SWS launched the SWS Trailblazer Award as a way of recognizing an SWS member who has made an extraordinary contribution to sociology, the profession, and/or the community. The nominee should exemplify “trailblazer” qualities of taking risks, changing society for the better, being a leader on campus and/or the community, showing courage, and forging new bold paths in research, activism, and in the field. Nominations from members who have notably and consistently used sociology to improve conditions for marginalized communities in society are especially welcome. 

Award Benefits

The awardee will be celebrated at the annual SWS Winter Meeting and they will be profiled in the program. Additional benefits associated with this award include:

• $250 award check

• Up to $500 travel stipend to attend the annual Winter Meeting

• SWS lifetime SWS membership

Eligibility and Application Submission

An SWS member can nominate someone who has been an SWS member for at least 3 years. 

A complete application includes:

• A nomination letter from the nominator(s) that provides details and evidence of why this SWS member has made extraordinary and trailblazer type contributions in the profession or in the community. The nomination letter can detail the nominee’s contributions to feminist scholarship, their influence and impact in the profession, and any other information deemed important for consideration of this recognition. The letter should not exceed 5 pages. 

• Candidate’s CV 

• A maximum of 10 support letters of the nomination from academics, activists, and/or other professional contacts can be included in the nomination packet. Letters should be 1-2 pages in length.

• A group of people have the option to write one nomination letter and sign it collectively.

• (optional) Up to five samples of evidence about the nominees’ impact (PDFs of publications, websites, press releases)  

• The nominator(s) is/are welcome to update or resubmit the original nomination packet in subsequent application cycles.

All submissions are via the Member Portal: sws.memberclicks.net.

Reporting Requirements and Timeline

This SWS award is recognition and therefore, no final report is required. Awardees are notified by late summer if they are the recipient.