The Academic Communicators Network (ACN) Excellence Awards recognize faculty and other academics who are actively and effectively communicating about their research and scholarship to target audiences. Academics are honored in five categories: 

• Media Relations: Demonstrated leadership working with the news media (includes print, online, and/or broadcast communications)
• Op-ed Writing: Wrote an exceptional op-ed(s) and achieved placement in a noteworthy publication(s) 
• Digital Communications: Demonstrated innovation using websites, social media, podcasts, and/or blogs
• Early Career Communicator: Utilized communication channels effectively to share research and engage audiences as an early career scholar
• Best Overall Communicator: Excelled in two or more of the above categories

Nomination Process

The ACN Excellence Awards are open to current University faculty, other academic appointees (OAAs), and postdoctoral researchers. Any current faculty member, OAA, postdoctoral researcher, staff member, or student may submit a nomination. Individuals may be nominated for multiple categories, and nominators may submit multiple award nominees.

Nominations are currently closed for this academic year.

Email faculty_development@uchicago.edu with any questions.