Awards

2026 award winners are listed below.

Instructions and deadlines for 2027 award nominations will be announced in the future.

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Matilda White Riley Distinguished Scholar Award

This annual award honors a scholar in the field of aging and the life course who has shown exceptional achievement in research, theory, policy analysis, or who has otherwise advanced knowledge of aging and the life course.

The 2026 winner is Jill Suitor (Purdue University).

2027 Nomination Process: To be announced.

Outstanding Publication Award

This annual award honors an outstanding recent contribution to the field of sociology of aging and the life course as determined by the Outstanding Publication Award Committee.

The 2026 award is for an article by Isabel Garcia Valdivia (University of Oregon):
(2026). Life course illegality: How the life course and aging shape the experience of illegality. Social Forces.

2027 Nomination Process: To be announced.

Graduate Student Paper Award

This annual award honors an outstanding paper written by a graduate student member(s) of SALC, as determined by the Graduate Student Paper Award committee. The award consists of $250 presented to the winner at the SALC Business Meeting, held during the annual ASA meeting.

The 2026 award is for a paper by Jessica Stallone (University of Toronto):
“Aging in Nationhood: Everyday Nationalism and Belonging Among Seniors in Old-Age Homes in Québec”

2027 Nomination Process: To be announced.

SALC Outstanding Mentoring Award

SALC has a rich legacy of mentoring, both of students and junior faculty. We want to honor this history by recognizing SALC members who have distinguished themselves as mentors in the field of aging and the life course.

The 2026 winner is Merril Silverstein (Syracuse University).

2027 Nomination Process: To be announced.

Public Impact Award

This award recognizes the work of a SALC member at any stage of their career who has demonstrated impact in applied research or improving lives through aging and/or life course scholarship. Examples of impact could be through, for example, community-engaged research, education of future professionals or stakeholders, policy engagement, and/or effective research translation for the greater public good. The winner must be a member of the Section on Aging and the Life Course at the time of the award.

The 2026 winner is Rebecca Utz (University of Utah).

2027 Nomination Process: To be announced.