AGLS Award for National Leadership

AGLS Award for National Leadership in General and Liberal Education

Beginning in 1992, AGLS has offered a biennial award that recognizes exemplary individuals who have made significant contributions to the practice or theory of general education and liberal studies on a national level. In 2017 the AGLS Council voted to re-frame the award and its criteria to include a greater range of leadership categories that characterize higher education in the 21st century.

The award is open on odd years for nominees. The next cycle will be presented in 2025.



Congratulations to our 2023 Recipient

Dr. Paul Hanstedt
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Innovation
University of Minnesota, Rochester

AGLS President, Stephen Biscotte, presents Dr. Hanstedt his award.

Nominees may be: senior administrators on a college campus (two- or four-year) who are recognized as advocates for general and liberal studies; well-known figures associated with assessment or accreditation or higher education organizations; or scholars who have made influential contributions to the national conversation around general and liberal education. (This brief list is merely illustrative. Other kinds of contributions are also possible.)

The initial nomination is a letter (2-3 pages) containing the name of the individual, the home institution or organization, and a statement that summarizes the candidate’s most significant contributions and makes the case for his or her stature as a national leader supporting general and liberal studies. Nominations can be submitted at any time. Nominations are received by the Past President and the nominating committee, who will contact the candidates to confirm their participation in the final process and gather any additional information needed (such as a c.v.). The recipient receives a plaque, complimentary registration and is typically invited to offer formal remarks when the award is presented at the next annual meeting.

Nominations to be considered for the 2025 award should be received no later than May 22, 2025.

The award will be given at the annual Constitute in Louisville, KY.

2025 Award Guidelines will be available HERE in early 2025.

Submit Inquiries or Nominations to execdir@agls.org.

The AGLS award honors the memory of Dr. Joseph (Joe) Katz, a philosophy professor who became a nationally recognized expert on student development and advocated for undergraduate education as a whole.

From 1992 to 2016, the award was known as the Joseph Katz…

Recipients of the AGLS Award for National Leadership in General and Liberal Education

2023 Paul Hanstedt, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Innovation, University of Minnesota Rochester
2021 Lenore Rodicio, Senior Fellow at The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program
2019 no award given

Recipients of the Joseph Katz Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Practice and Discourse of General and Liberal Education

2017 no award given
2015 Susan Albertine, Association of American Colleges & Universities
2013 Linda Cabe Halpern, James Madison University
2010 Julie Thompson-Klein, Wayne State University
2007 J. Scott Lee, Association for Core Texts and Courses
2005 Carol Geary Schneider, Association of American Colleges & Universities
2003 Karen Schilling, Miami University of Ohio
2001 John Hinni, Southeast Missouri State University
1999 John Nichols, Saint Joseph’s College
1996 Richard Weeks, West Virginia Wesleyan College
1994 Jackson Newell, University of Utah
1993 Kathryn Mohrman, Colorado College
1992 Jerry Gaff, Association of American Colleges & Universities

This page updated January 10, 2024