The Carol A. Baker '81 Memorial Prize
The Carol Baker prize was established in 1987 and is awarded annually on the following terms:
The Carol A. Baker ’81 Memorial Prize supports the development and recognition of outstanding junior faculty within the Frank Center for Public Affairs. Established to honor excellence in both teaching and research, the prize is awarded annually by the Dean of the Social Sciences. Through this recognition, the award seeks to encourage continued achievement and innovation among early-career scholars, reflecting a commitment to academic distinction and faculty advancement.
2025-26 Recipient
Awarded by Mary Jane Rubenstein, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
Xiaoxue Zhao, Department of Economics and Kolby Hanson, Department of Government
Past Recipients
Awarded by Charles Lemert, Dean of the Social Sciences:
1987-88 - Sue Fisher, Department of Sociology
Awarded by Richard Boyd, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
1988-89 - John Finn, Department of Government
1989-90 - Patricia Hill, Department of History
1990-91 - Rob Rosenthal, Department of Sociology
Awarded by David Morgan, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
1991-92 - Marc Eisner, Department of Government
1992-93 - Richard Grossman, Department of Economics
1993-94 - Gary Shaw, Department of History
1994-95 - Gilbert Skillman, Department of Economics
Awarded by Alex Dupuy, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
1995-96 - Claire Potter, Department of History
1996-97 - Sandi Wong, Department of Sociology
1997-98 - Renee Romano, Department of History
Awarded by Ann-Louise Shapiro, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
1998-99 - None Awarded
1999-00 - Douglas Foyle, Department of Government and Jonathan Cutler, Department of Sociology
2000-01 - Jennifer Tucker, Department of History
Awarded by Brian Fay, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
2001-02 - None Awarded
2002-03 - Ethan Kleinberg, Department of History
2003-04 - Christiann Hogendorn, Department of Economics
2004-05 - Erik Grimmer-Solem, Department of History
Awarded by Don Moon, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
2005-06 - Ernesto Verdeja, Department of Government
2006-07 - Masami Imai, Department of Economics
2007-08 - Mary Alice Haddad, Department of Government
2008-09 - None Awarded
2009-10 - Erica Chenoweth, Department of Government
Awarded by Gary Shaw, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
2010-11 - Paul Erickson, Department of History
2011-12 - Erika Franklin Fowler, Department of Government
2012-13 - Leah Wright, Department of History
Awarded by Joyce Jacobsen, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
2013-14 - Sonali Chakravarti, Department of Government
2014-15 - Logan Dancey, Department of Government
Awarded by Marc Eisner, Dean of the Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
2015-16 - Melanie Khamis, Department of Economics
2016-17 - Victoria Smolkin, Department of History
2017-18 - Jeffers Lennox, Department of History
2018-19 - David Kuenzel, Department of Economics and Joslyn Barnhart Trager, Department of Government
Awarded by Demetrius Eudell, Dean of Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board:
2019-2020 - Emy Matesan, Department of Government
2020-2021 - Abigail Boggs, Department of Sociology
2021-2022 - Justin Peck, Department of Government
2022-2023 - Alyx Mark - Department of Government
Awarded by Mary Jane Rubenstein, Dean of Social Sciences, on the basis of recommendation by the PAC Governing Board
2023-2024 - Ryuichiro Izumi, Department of Economics
2024-2025 - Lindsay Dolan, Department of Government