ASPPH Harrison C. Spencer Award for Outstanding Community Service

The ASPPH Harrison C. Spencer Award for Outstanding Community Service was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Harrison C. Spencer, who demonstrated a lifelong commitment to social justice and community engagement to address the social determinants of health.

This is the only ASPPH award that recognizes an institution, rather than an individual—celebrating schools and programs that embody sustained excellence in collaborative community service.

Congratulations to the 2026 ASPPH Award Winner

2026 Award Recipient

Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health in Indianapolis

Award Criteria

Programs nominated for this award should demonstrate some or all of the following:

Visionary leadership that promotes excellence in public health, improves population health outcomes, and addresses the diverse needs of communities
Clear alignment with the institution’s mission and core values related to community engagement and service
Active participation of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and public health professionals in service initiatives that advance institutional and community goals
Innovative, scholarly, and evidence-based programs that build authentic, long-term partnerships with communities to address pressing health concerns
The creation, application, and integration of new knowledge that informs public health practice and contributes to community well-being
Public health scholarship that includes research, synthesis, and translation with real-world impact
Strategic leadership and collaboration in leveraging institutional and community assets to prevent disease, promote health, and respond to emerging challenges
Thoughtful engagement of institutional expertise to meet educational, economic, and health-related needs identified by the community

Eligibility

Nominees must be current ASPPH-member, CEPH-accredited schools or programs of public health
Institutions may not have previously received this award.
Past finalists are eligible to reapply.
Past finalists are eligible to reapply.
Institutions may not have previously received this award.
Past finalists are eligible to reapply.

Required Materials

Nominations may be submitted by any public health professional inside or outside the nominee institution. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged.

Each nomination must include:

Contact information for both the nominee institution and the nominator
A brief overview statement (max. 800 words) introducing the program(s) and outlining why the institution merits consideration
A detailed narrative (max. 6 pages) describing:
- The institution’s sustained commitment to community service
- Descriptions of community-based programs, including their development, structure, outcomes, and institutional/community impact
- Involvement of faculty, staff, students, and alumni
- How these efforts are supported and sustained by the institution
Two letters of support from external partners (preferably community-based organizations) detailing the program’s impact

Award Details

$5,000 cash prize, intended for distribution to one or more community partners

Complimentary registration for the ASPPH Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon

Formal recognition at the Awards Ceremony

Commemorative award trophy

Review & Selection Process

Nominations are reviewed by a selection committee of the ASPPH Executive Board. The committee will identify two finalists, followed by site visits conducted by ASPPH leadership to learn more about each institution’s programs in depth.

Final deliberations will determine the award recipient based on demonstrated impact, sustainability, and institutional commitment to community service.