Advancing Diversity and Excellence: The New AIS Mid-Career Award

The Association for Information Systems (AIS) has always been committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable community that reflects the ideals of respect, fairness, and belonging for all its members. To further this commitment, the AIS is proud to introduce the AIS Mid-Career Award, a recognition that celebrates outstanding achievements and contributes to a more diverse and vibrant AIS community. This award is the result of a collaborative effort by the AIS Mid-Career Award Task Force, the NSF ImPACT IT grant initiative team, and the AIS Council whose dedicated members have meticulously crafted a framework that aligns with AIS' core values.

“By embracing a comprehensive approach that considers research, teaching, and service contributions, this award sets the stage for acknowledging excellence across a spectrum of accomplishments,” said Michelle Carter, AIS Vice President of SIGs and Colleges and co-PI of the ImPACT IT grant initiative. “The award was designed to foster a culture of inclusivity that resonates with AIS members from various backgrounds around the globe.”

The need for a Mid-Career Award in AIS arises from the observation that existing awards for mid-career faculty are more narrowly focused. While other awards recognize excellence in a specific area, the AIS Mid-Career Award fills a crucial gap by celebrating overall achievements across research, teaching, and service. The absence of an equivalent to the Early Career or Fellow awards for mid-career faculty prompted the exploration of this novel recognition.

The potential for a community-nominated Mid-Career Award aligns with AIS's mission to cultivate engagement within its global communities. Feedback from the IT Impact NSF grant initiative underscored the importance of recognizing AIS members who excel in multiple criteria. This award's design facilitates deeper involvement within AIS communities and can play a pivotal role in promotion cases. Notably, several other academic associations, including INFORMS and ACM, have successfully implemented mid-career awards, highlighting their effectiveness in recognizing excellence.

The criteria for the AIS Mid-Career Award reflect the desire to celebrate well-rounded contributions. Qualified AIS Mid-Career Award candidates should:

1. at the time of nomination be between seven (7) years and twenty (20) cumulative years after their doctoral degrees OR be within the first twenty (20) cumulative years of their academic career if they do not have a doctoral degree.
2. have made significant contributions to the discipline in terms of advancing and/or disseminating knowledge, engaging IS pedagogy, and service to the wider community.
3. garner recognition from professionals, academics, and entities outside of the IS discipline.
4. be esteemed for their high levels of professional and personal integrity.
5. has not received the AIS Mid-Career Award previously; and
6. normally not have achieved the highest academic rank within their national/regional context.

Candidates must be current members of the AIS at the nomination and receipt of recognition and: (1) have been an AIS member for at least two (2) consecutive years immediately prior to the nomination or (2) have been an AIS member for five (5) cumulative years of their academic career.

The AIS Mid-Career Award stands as a testament to the AIS' commitment to excellence, diversity, and inclusivity. By recognizing individuals who embody these principles and have made substantial contributions to the field of information systems, AIS paves the way for a more enriched and harmonious community. The journey towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future starts with such visionary initiatives.

The AIS Mid-Career Award has a two-step nomination process:

1. Nominations must be submitted using the online nomination form below by September 23. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
2. The Chairperson of the AIS Mid-Career Award committee will contact nominated individuals directly and will provide a link to an online application by October 1. Nominees who wish to be considered for the award must fill out the online application by October 7.

The AIS Mid-Career Award Committee will determine the recipients of the award by October 31 of each year.

Learn more about the AIS Mid-Career Award and nominate a colleague on the AIS website.