Established in 2008, the Essentials award seeks to recognize an author or authors who have written an article that is thought-provoking, enlightening, and provides relevant and practical ideas to AFA members. To be eligible, articles must be original work and not previously published, based on sound professional practice and/or research, and have been published in Essentials between August of the previous year through July of the current year. Finalists for this award are selected by the Editorial Board and then reviewed by the Awards and Recognition Committee to determine a winner.

Established in 1988, the Perspectives award seeks to recognize those who have contributed thought provoking pieces that are educational and enlightening to the AFA membership. To be eligible, contributions must be original work and not previously published, must demonstrate evidence of research and/or include relevant and practical ideas to Association members that support the advancement of the fraternal movement, and must have been published in Perspectives between Fall of the previous year and Summer of the current year. Recipients for this award are selected by the Editorial Board based on the following criteria:

The Dr. Charles Eberly Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research & Practice award recognizes outstanding written and academic contributions to the fraternity/sorority industry. Dr. Eberly titled the journal Oracle in 2006. Since 2005, the journal has provided outstanding research to the fraternity and sorority industry and will continue to do so under the newly established name. Eligible publications for this award were published and peer-reviewed during the past academic year (September – August). Submissions should demonstrate evidence of research and should include relevant and practical ideas to Association members that support the advancement of research within the fraternal movement. Finalists for this award are selected by the Editorial Board and then reviewed by the Awards and Recognition Committee to determine a winner.

Established in 2021, the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Dissertation of the Year Award, presented by Dyad Strategies, recognizes a completed dissertation that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in the field of fraternity/sorority life. Consistent with other functional area-specific higher education associations, the Dissertation of the Year Award is an opportunity for AFA to honor a recently-minted Ed.D. or Ph.D. degree conferred by the time of recognition of that year’s Annual Meeting. This award recognizes a dissertation that makes an exceptional contribution to research on issues directly related to fraternity/sorority life in higher education. The dissertation may honor any scholarly tradition or methodology but must focus on fraternity/sorority life as central to the dissertation study (including but not limited to students, practitioners, organizations, identities).

The focus of the research must maintain a strong connection to fraternities/sororities (e.g., the purpose of the project relates to this population; opposed to fraternity/sorority involvement being a finding in a larger study examining another student affairs or higher education functional area).

Dissertation Chair (or Advisor) contact information in the application will be used to confirm the degree and period of dissertation completion. The abstract should not include any identifying information about the applicant, committee members, or institution where the degree was granted. Finalists for this award are selected by the Research Committee and then reviewed by the Awards and Recognition Committee to determine a winner.

The Dissertation of the Year Award receives a $500 award honorarium through endowed support from Dyad Strategies, LLC. Dyad Strategies is an applied research and assessment firm that helps fraternal organizations and college campuses measure and improve the impact of their work. Through longitudinal assessment, external reviews, consulting and training, Dyad Strategies has profoundly reshaped the way the fraternity/sorority industry approaches data and research. Partners Joshua Schutts, Ph.D. and Gentry McCreary Ph.D. have both been AFA members since 2005, have both served on the AFA board of directors, and continue to serve AFA in Volunteer roles. Their award-winning research examines fraternity/sorority chapter culture, the roots of fraternal brotherhood and sisterhood, the psychology of hazing, and moral development among college students.