SWS Trailblazer Award

About this program

Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) offers the Trailblazer Award (launched 2025) to honor an SWS member whose risk-taking, campus/community leadership, scholarship, and activism have forged bold paths and advanced social change, with special welcome for nominations documenting use of sociology to improve conditions for marginalized communities. The awardee is celebrated at the SWS Winter Conference and receives a $250 award check, up to $500 travel stipend to attend the conference, and a lifetime SWS membership. Nominees must have been SWS members for at least three years (need not be consecutive) and must be nominated by an SWS member; nominations require a ≤5-page letter detailing contributions, the candidate CV, and up to five supporting PDFs submitted via the Member Portal (supporting items may be emailed if necessary). Preference is given to nominations supported by multiple members, the annual deadline is listed as April 1, and recipients are notified by late summer.