Rollins Awards
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We are proud to celebrate the exceptional contributions of our faculty, staff, and students whose work positively impacts our community and beyond.
Each spring, we host our annual Rollins Awards Ceremony to honor individuals who have received recognition through Rollins, Emory University, and other professional organizations. These awards highlight excellence in teaching, research, and practice, as well as a strong commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Nominations are closed until Spring 2026.
Faculty
Faculty Awards
This award is presented to the faculty member of the Rollins School of Public Health who exemplifies the ideals of public health and who serves as a role model and mentor to their colleagues. The award is given to an individual who, like the man for whom it is named, represents the best qualities of collegiality.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time faculty (TT, CRT)
Only faculty members may nominate for this category.
The Dr. Charles R. Hatcher, Jr. Award was created to honor faculty members of the Health Sciences Center who, through their lifetime of work, exemplify excellence in public health.
Nominations are submitted on behalf of SON, SOM, and Rollins leadership.
Faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the teaching mission for your department. In this context, “teaching” is broadly defined to include contributions both inside and outside of the classroom.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time faculty (TT, CRT)
Selected by each department based on the department’s criteria.
Given by the Rollins School of Public Health students, these awards honor outstanding faculty who demonstrate leadership, a genuine concern for students, and a sense of academic excellence.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time faculty (TT, CRT)
Selected by RSGA committee.
Rollins School of Public Health aims to recognize outstanding research accomplishments among Rollins faculty members across all levels. To accomplish this, at least three (3) and up to six (6) Rollins faculty members (at least one for each rank of Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors) will be recognized annually. Faculty rank, for the purposes of the different awards below, is determined by the nominees’ ranks during the Fall semester of the current academic year.
Early Career Research Excellence Award
The Early Career Research Excellence Awards recognize outstanding investigators at the Assistant Professor level.
Foundations Research Excellence Award
The Foundations Research Excellence Awards recognize outstanding investigators at the Associate Professor level.
Senior Research Excellence Award
The Senior Research Excellence Awards recognize outstanding investigators at the Full Professor level.
The awards are given annually to full-time Rollins faculty members, who have made impactful research-related contributions to their field. Awardees will be recognized with a plaque at the awards ceremony and their names and accomplishments published on the awards website.
Eligibility: All full-time Rollins faculty members (all tracks), who have held faculty positions at Rollins for at least one year are eligible to be nominated for the Research Excellence Awards. Previous awardees are eligible for nomination if 5 or more years have passed since receipt of their prior award.
The purpose of these awards is to recognize outstanding scholarly and research achievements, which could include:
- Exemplary scholarly accomplishments (publications, presentations and/or other scholarly activities) that advance nominees’ fields of study.
- Specific outstanding discoveries or the development of innovative technologies or practices.
- Research that advances the school’s mission in expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Research that engages with and positively impacts communities that we serve
- Outstanding research-related mentorship of trainees or junior faculty.
- For the Senior Research Excellence Award, historical and sustained research excellence
- For the Foundations and Senior Research Excellence Award, establishing resources and sponsorship that broadly supports other faculty members.
- Other research related activities that help to fulfill the mission of the Rollins.
Nomination Process for all Research Excellence Awards
We invite nominations for Rollins faculty members at all faculty levels, who have achieved outstanding scholarly success. To make a nomination (including self-nomination), please compile the following items:
- A brief written description of the qualities and accomplishments that make the nominee an excellent choice for the award (max 500 words).
- The CV for the nominee.
Awarded to a full-time faculty member at Rollins who epitomizes the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their teaching, mentoring, research, and/or service activities.
Criteria to be considered for the award may include:
(*Not all criteria must be met):
- Embraces and nurtures the recognition of cultural, ethnic, racial, class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, language and other human differences and their relevance to teaching, research and/or service activities.
- Leadership in DEI-related initiatives at Rollins/department or unit, Emory University or profession.
- Actively pursues research projects that explicitly address diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Actively pursues opportunities to advance their own knowledge and skills related to DEI and/or consistently shares their DEI learnings with leadership, colleagues, students/trainees, staff, alumni and other Rollins partners.
- Contributes to building a supportive educational and professional community that fosters belonging.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time faculty (TT, CRT)
Award Process
Any member of the Rollins community may nominate a candidate for the Rollins Faculty DEI Award. Required information includes:
- the name of the nominee,
- their title and/or rank (e.g., assistant professor, director of XY center)
their primary department - a description of specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has led and/or participated in
- one or more of the activities listed above (in less than 500 words)
- contact information for both the nominee and the nominator (if desired)
Recipients are chosen by a committee of faculty members currently serving on DEI committees. Faculty members who are nominated while serving on the awards selection committee will recuse themselves from the entire process. No one from the Dean’s office can be nominated for this award.
This award seeks to recognize Rollins full-time faculty who demonstrate innovative leadership in promoting excellence, health equity, and inclusiveness in academic public health practice (PHP), including strengthening the public health workforce. In this context “practice” is defined as work that advances the delivery of services to improve public health and/or the effectiveness of organizations that directly promote community health and well-being. The public health “workforce” is defined as individuals and groups who work collectively to implement and manage programs, conduct research, formulate policies, and deliver services that enhance the health of individuals and communities. The workforce operates across various sectors and settings, including but not limited to: governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, health care facilities, academic institutions, and private industry.
We are seeking nominations to recognize faculty who have an established history of working in public health practice AND faculty who are emerging in their commitment to public health practice.
- Established Practice Excellence is for those individuals who have dedicated a significant portion of their careers to public health practice, consistently contributing to the field through leadership, mentorship, and sustained impact. They are defined by their legacy in public health practice, with a track record of substantial achievements, innovative contributions, influential leadership, and a profound and lasting impact on the field and the communities they serve.
- Emerging Practice Excellence is for those individuals who are in the early stages of their academic careers or have recently redirected their focus towards advancing public health practice. They are defined by their exceptional promise and innovation in public health practice and/or have demonstrated significant contributions and leadership in this new career direction.
Eligibility:
- Full-time faculty members (all tracks)
- Self-nominations are accepted
The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding public health practice achievements, which could include some or all the following criteria:
Education and Training:
- Participates in teaching, training and/or mentoring current members of the public health workforce who may work across a multitude of sectors (e.g., government, community, NGOs) and/or future public health practitioners and scholars.
- Contributes to the development of a public health workforce that is creative, diverse, and inclusive.
- Incorporates principles of health equity and inclusiveness into curricula and training programs to prepare a workforce capable of addressing health disparities.
Translation of Knowledge:
- Advances the translation of academic scholarship (e.g. theory, research, communication) into practice through strong collaborations between academia and the public health workforce.
- Advances awareness and appreciation within academia of public health practice realities to advance teaching, scholarship, service and career development.
- Utilizes research findings to inform and advocate for public policies and practices that promote health equity and inclusiveness.
Capacity Building and Advocacy:
- Engages with a range of public health organizations through mutually beneficial, authentic partnerships with the goal of improving the organizations’ capacities (including, but not limited to evidence-based and sustained programs, policies, laws, and workforce training).
- Collaborates with community members and organizations from a position of mutual respect, collaborative vision, shared ownership and recognition.
- Engages with public health practice organizations to advance their missions and serves the public’s health.
- Implements strategies and initiatives that address social determinants of health and works towards reducing health disparities in communities.
- Advocates for policies, programs, and practices that promote health equity and inclusiveness.
Nomination Process:
Any member of the Rollins community as well as external community partners can submit a nomination for this award by completing the online nomination form, which includes information about the nominee and the nominator, as well as open text sections to address each of the criteria categories (Education and Training, Translation of Knowledge, and Capacity Building and Advocacy) for which they are being nominated. Additionally, a nominator may include but is not required to submit the following:
- A 1-page letter of support from individuals who are knowledgeable about the nominee’s work, which demonstrates the nominee’s significant contributions to academic public health practice. The letter(s) of support can be co-signed by multiple people and can come from individuals internal or external to Emory University. If included in the submission, the information in the letter should be additive, rather than duplicative of the information submitted in the open text boxes on the nomination form.
- A second letter from a practice partner of the nominee.
The final awardee is chosen by a selection committee. The committee is comprised of 6-8 Rollins faculty members with substantial experience in public health practice. Any faculty member who is nominated while serving on the awards selection committee will recuse themselves from the entire process, and will be replaced as needed, to retain a selection committee of a minimum of 6 members.
Staff
Awards Process: Any member of the Rollins community may nominate a candidate for the Rollins Staff Awards.
Required information includes:
- Award in which you are submitting a nomination
- Name of the nominee
- Title
- Department and/or service unit
- A description of how the nominee has fulfilled one or more of the core activities (in less than 500 words)
Contact information for both the nominee and the nominator (if desired)
Selection Process: The Rollins School of Public Health Human Resources reviews each nomination for eligibility and completeness and then routes each nomination to the Award Selection Committee. The Award Selection Committee is appointed by Executive Associate Dean of Finance and Administration.
The committee evaluates all submissions using the information derived in the nomination categories and selects award recipients each year.
Committee Charge: To review submitted nominations in order to select winners for each school sponsored award. Up to three awardees for the P. Dean Surbey Staff Award of Distinction and one awardee from the Award for Excellence in Research or Practice, Staff Excellence Award in Leadership, Diversity Leadership Award, Rising Star, and Innovation Award.
The Award Selection Committee will strive to review the incoming applications with the view, that all nominees are to be considered worthy and deserving of an award.
The Award Selection Committee will pursue its task, mindful of the fact, that the Rollins staff is the most diverse workforce on campus. Nominations should be reviewed in the spirit of inclusivity, fairness, and accountability, and winners should reflect this inclusive, fair, and accountable process.
Committee Members:
- Staff Council Chair and Co-chair
- Staff member (1 Research Staff; 1 non-research staff)
- 2 Service Unit Members
- 1 Community and Diversity Committee Member (Selected by DEI office)
Communication and Celebration: The Dean’s office notifies each award recipient and the respective supervisor, unit director or department chair. Honorees will be recognized at the RSPH annual award ceremony.
Staff Awards
The P. Dean Surbey Staff Award of Distinction is the highest award for Rollins staff who have made outstanding contributions to the Rollins community. This award is named after the school’s first associate dean for finance & administration, who spent 30 years working for Rollins.
Up to three Rollins employees who have made outstanding contributions to the Rollins community will be recognized annually.
- Commitment to service with the public, students, faculty, and/or colleagues.
- Commitment to excellence through sustained exemplary service to Public Health.
- Long-time, exceptional service and dedication to Rollins which has led to a legacy of achievement over the span of one's career.
- Exemplary staff members who have demonstrated a passion for enhancing the Rollins community by strengthening the connection between staff, students, and faculty.
Recipients may be selected based on one or more the above categories with no limitations on the number of nominees in categories.
Criteria for nominating a candidate may include but are not limited to the following:
- Integrity - Behaves in an honest and ethical manner; demonstrates accountability; identifies problems; gathers facts in order to make ethical decisions.
- Respect - Embraces an understanding of social norms; embraces all perspectives; shows regard for other’s traditions, abilities and qualities.
- Responsibility - Demonstrates professionalism; seeks out opportunities for professional development to better understand their role within the organization; works independently.
- Discovery - Accepting and encouraging creativity and failure when it happens; fosters creativity in problem solving.
- Excellence - High performing; sees excellence everywhere; takes initiative to make processes/procedures better.
- Community - Makes outstanding contributions the university community both internally and across other units.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time and part-time staff or post-docs, who have been employed by Rollins for at least five years are eligible to be nominated.
The Rollins Award for Excellence in Public Health Research or Practice is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding and sustained contributions in the areas of research or practice. The award recognizes a staff member who has gone above and beyond in contributing to research programs. Through their commitment to various aspects of the research process or through impacts on practice, this person will have shown a remarkable drive in creating lasting improvements in the health of our local, regional, and/or global community.
Criteria for nominating a candidate may include but are not limited to the following:
- Consistently seeking to improve own skills and knowledge and to promulgate learning in a manner that results in continuous improvement in the team’s performance.
- Consistently demonstrating good citizenship beyond the department.
- Making a significant contribution to raising the overall profile of the research group.
- Repeatedly representing the department on division/university-wide working groups and thereby making a significant and measurable contribution to the implementation of new systems or procedures.
- Resourcefulness beyond expected (e.g. solving problems or demonstrating initiative in responding to difficult situations or unforeseen circumstances).
- Consistently demonstrates a commitment to and delivery of outstanding customer service, going the ‘extra mile’ when appropriate to assist colleagues and external customers.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time and part-time staff
Recognition of an individual who has played a key role in the leadership of personnel, resource(s) or project(s). Or an individual who has played a key role in mentoring other staff. The nominee does not have to be a formal mentor but rather an individual that seizes opportunities to educate and guide others around them.
Criteria for nominating a candidate may include but are not limited to the following:
- Respect - Focuses on the team; listens and learns from others around them; inspires performance; supports others around them.
- Responsibility - Recognizes natural gifts in team members and works to develop them; works with others to own mistakes and problem solve; demonstrates professionalism.
- Discovery - Encourages growth among others; creates an environment where failure is part of learning; exhibits resourcefulness.
- Excellence - Seeks ways to improve methods; practices for the betterment of the unit/college/university; goes above and beyond the job duties to contribute.
- Community - Establishes relationships both internally and across university units; serves as a mentor; serves on college/dept and/or University committee memberships or service.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time and part-time staff
Awarded to a staff member who has exhibited an outstanding commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and has demonstrated exemplary contributions to developing a culturally diverse and welcoming university community reflective of inclusive excellence.
Criteria for nominating a candidate may include but are not limited to the following:
- Embraces and nurtures the recognition of cultural, ethnic, racial, class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, language and other human differences and their relevance in the workplace.
- Participation and/or leadership in DEI-related initiatives at Rollins/department or unit.
- Demonstrates a self-awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and related social issues.
- Contributes to building a supportive educational and professional community that fosters belonging; including proactively establishing relationships with people from other backgrounds and cultures.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing their own knowledge and skills related to DEI.
- Shares insights and/or engages in discussions that represent a diversity of perspectives in their work environment.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time and part-time staff
Recognizes a new staff member whose record reflects ongoing and exceptional growth in contribution to the school. This individual has innovative ideas and has made significant contributions. They have a demonstrated record of improvement, have progressed through cooperation, initiative, and are self-starters with a take-charge attitude. This talented employee has volunteered to assist when and where needed.
Criteria for nominating a candidate may include but are not limited to the following:
- Leadership - Demonstrates leadership and displays initiative in providing guidance and assistance with regards to interactions with other employees, faculty, patients, and/or students.
- Reliability - Routinely goes above and beyond expectations when completing tasks.
- Creativity - goes above and beyond expectations by enhancing the internal/ external customer service experience through creative problem-solving.
- Teamwork - Is an active contributor to help the team achieve its shared goal. Demonstrates consistent engagement as a team player; proactive in helping coworkers.
- Service - Goes above and beyond the call of duty by providing service contributions outside of defined job responsibilities.
- Integrity - Shows commitment to high quality work ethic in carrying out responsibilities.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time and part-time staff or post-docs, who have been employed by Rollins for less than three years are eligible to be nominated.
Recognizes those individuals or teams that have made a transformative impact that will be felt by the school for years to come.
- Significant contribution to an innovation resulting in increased customer satisfaction for students, faculty, staff, visitors or alumni.
- Creative suggestion or initiative resulting in a new successful program or service for a department or for RSPH.
- Innovation resulting in increased efficiency or decreased costs in a department or for Rollins.
Recipients may be selected based on one or more the above categories with no limitations on the number of nominees in categories.
Criteria for nominating a candidate may include but are not limited to the following:
- Works to improve any area of the university’s operations (from academics to athletics, campus life to systems).
- Identifies creative solutions, large or small in scope, that have made a significant and positive difference.
- Suggests new ways to improve the quality of services or programming.
- Identifies novel approaches for completing work more effectively or efficiently.
- Identifies new ideas, solutions, or directions.
- Works to develop new approaches when problem solving; sought ideas or suggestions from others as appropriate.
- Plans effectively for the successful implementation and long-term success of new services, systems, or programming.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time and part-time staff
Given by the Rollins School of Public Health students, these awards honor outstanding staff who demonstrate leadership, a genuine concern for students, and a sense of academic excellence.
Eligibility: Rollins full-time and part-time staff
Selected by Rollins Student Government Association committee.
Student
Student Awards
Presented annually since 1986, the Charles C. Shepard Award is given to the graduating master's student who is deemed by the faculty to have prepared the most scholarly research paper. The award honors the work and memory of Dr. Charles C. Shepard, an outstanding scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who made important advances in the field of public health.
Each year, Rollins departments are invited to nominate up to two students who they deem best thesis in their department; students who graduated in the most recent summer, fall, and spring semesters are eligible. An annual Shepard Symposium is held each May, allowing nominees to present their work to the Rollins community.
The award recipient is chosen by a faculty committee comprised of members of each Rollins department and announced at Rollins Commencement Ceremony.
Established in 1998, the Emory Woman's Club Scholarship provides support to a rising second year student who has contributed to women’s health, whose career goals align to women’s health, and who has financial need. To learn more about the Emory University Woman’s Club, please go here.
Eligibility: Student in MPH/MSPH Program entering second year
Required for submission: A description outlining the nominee's contributions to women's health and career goals (in less than 500 words) and a CV or resume.
Only faculty members can nominate.
This award is presented to the graduating student who has demonstrated a creative approach to solving public health problems and who shows promise for outstanding service in the international arena.
Eligibility: Second-year graduate students
Required for submission: A description of how the nominee has fulfilled one or more of the criteria (in less than 500 words).
Only staff or faculty members can nominate.
Eligibility: Second-year graduate students
Required for submission: A description of how the nominee has fulfilled one or more of the criteria (in less than 500 words).
Only staff or faculty members can nominate.
Awarded to any Rollins graduate student, in good standing, who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to identifying and addressing inequities, creating avenues of access and/or advancing diversity and inclusion within and/or beyond Emory through their research, service and/or leadership activities. This individual should exhibit the highest level of intentionality in striving for equity and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging that respects the multiple intersections of individual identities within our student body. Examples may include:
- Exhibits a high degree of cultural humility and recognizes cultural, ethnic, racial, class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, language and other human differences and their relevance to public health education, research and practice.
- Actively pursues opportunities to advance their own knowledge and skills related to DEI and/or consistently shares their DEI learnings with peers and other members of the RSPH community.
- Leads or actively participates in research or scholarship that explicitly address diversity, equity and inclusion in public health (e.g., creates an APE project from a PI study on health disparities, leads in implementation of a community or global project focused on health equity, writes a publication on a DEI-related topic, etc).
- Demonstrates leadership in identifying and addressing inequities and creating avenues of access through DEI-related service/practice initiatives at Rollins, Emory University or outside of the University (e.g. community-based programs, national or international DEI activities, etc) that promote health equity.
Award Process
Any member of the Rollins community may nominate a candidate for the Rollins Student DEI Award. Required information includes:
- the name of the nominee
- their year (1st year MPH, etc)
- their academic department
- a description of how the nominee has led and/or participated in one or more of the activities listed above (in less than 500 words)
- contact information for both the nominee and the nominator (if desired)
Recipients are chosen by a committee of Rollins students under the leadership of the Rollins Student Government Association DEI Officers. Students who are nominated while serving on the awards selection committee will recuse themselves from the entire process.
Explore Past Rollins Award Winners
Rollins Celebrates Its One-of-A-Kind Community With First All School Awards Ceremony
Faculty, staff, and students packed the Margaret H. Rollins Room in late April as members of the Rollins community convened for the school’s first annual RSPH Awards Ceremony. An initiative led by the dean’s office, the ceremony was established to bring people together across Rollins, provide a venue for public recognition, and to celebrate the community’s collective achievements at the end of the academic year.
Celebrating Our Community at the 2024 RSPH Annual Awards Ceremony
Students, faculty, staff, and guests gathered in the Margaret H. Rollins room on April 29 to recognize outstanding members of the Rollins community at the RSPH Annual Awards Ceremony. Now in its second year, the ceremony celebrates outstanding work, achievements, and impact as the academic year draws to a close.
Rollins 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony Celebrates Exceptional Students, Faculty, and Staff
Rollins faculty, staff, and students came together on April 28 to celebrate community members during the 2025 Annual Rollins Awards Ceremony. The event honors recipients of school and university-wide awards that recognize outstanding achievements in teaching, research, and practice.