Distinguished Fellow of the Botanical Society of America

About this program

The Botanical Society of America awards the Distinguished Fellow, its highest honor, to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Society’s mission through excellence in basic research, education, public policy, and/or exceptional service to the professional botanical community. Recipients are selected by a committee and must adhere to the BSA Guidelines for Professional Ethics and the Ethical Guidelines for Nominated Awards. Nominations must be submitted by BSA members via the online awards portal and include a formal nomination letter describing notable accomplishments and influenced disciplines, at least three letters of support with complete contact information, the nominee’s curriculum vitae, and Professional Conduct Disclosure Forms from the nominator and letter writers, all combined into a single PDF. The award is closed for 2026; nominations will reopen in early 2027.