Background

This NASUP award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exemplary work over multiple years as a boundary spanner across contexts within a partnership between schools, universities, and/or community organizations. 

Eligibility

In order for a candidate to be considered eligible for this award, they must:

• Be an individual with a demonstrated record across multiple years of engaging in boundary-spanning work across contexts that involve a partnership between schools, universities, and/or community organizations. 
• Be a member of NASUP at the time of the conference that they may receive the award. 
• Receive a nomination from a member of NASUP. Self-nominations are accepted. 

Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on evidence of the following: 

• Evidence of the collaborative and shared nature of designing and carrying out the boundary-spanning activities with individuals where the boundary-spanning activities occur
• Documented benefit and impact of the boundary-spanning activities 
• Continuous improvement and refinement of boundary-spanning activities in response to their experiences, information, or the focus of the partnership
• Duration and extensive amount of time spent engaging in boundary-spanning activities 
• The extent to which boundary-spanning activities align to the broader vision and context of the entire school-university partnership

Nominations

The nomination package must include: 

• Two letters of support, each no longer than 3 single-spaced pages with 12-point font and 1-inch margins, is required. Self nominations are acceptable. 
• Note: At least one of the letters must be from someone whose primary context is the location of the boundary-spanning activities. 
• A copy of the nominee’s resume or vita.  

Selection Process

1. NASUP members may nominate candidates by letter or email to the Awards Committee using the nomination form. 
2. All nominations and supporting materials must be submitted electronically by the posted deadline. 
3. A sub-committee of the Awards Committee will review nominations using a rubric based on the eligibility conditions and criteria detailed above.
4. The winner(s) will be announced at the awards ceremony of the conference and publicized by press release to the honoree’s home institution and via the NASUP publications and website.

2026

• Michael Brosnan, Bridgeport Public Schools
• Danielle Butville, Pennsylvania State University
• Randi Latzke, University of South Florida

2025

• Daman Harris, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
• Chris Kennedy, Ohio University
• Meganlyn Norris & Shannon O’Donnell, Kutztown University & Schuylkill Valley Elementary School

2024

• Jenn Hatch Knight, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
• Drew Polly, Univesity of North Carolina at Charlotte

2023

• Dawn Nowlin, Whitehall Elementary, part of Bowie State University PDS Network
• Gina Dudkowski, South Buffalo Charter Schools, part of Buffalo State PDS Consortium
• Dr. Kristien Zenkov, George Mason University
• Dr. Elizabeth Hale, Tiger Academy, PDS School of University of North Florida