Faculty awards are more than acknowledgments of past success; they are strategic tools for advancing both individual careers and institutional priorities and can catalyze professional development and institutional advancement. Building on O’Meara’s work (2011), we aim to elevate the role of awards as underexplored yet powerful means of supporting career advancement, professional growth, and institutional success. We outline faculty and institutional motivations for awards, highlight strategic opportunities, and offer practical guidance to help deans and provosts align awards with faculty development and institutional success.
Beyond Recognition: Faculty Awards as Catalysts for Professional Growth and Institutional Success
Faculty awards are more than acknowledgments of past success; they are strategic tools for advancing both individual careers and institutional priorities and can catalyze professional development and institutional advancement. Building
Linda M. Boland and Vicki L. Baker
September 15, 2025
