Robert Shoop Student Research Award

Named after Dr. Robert (Bob) Shoop, retired faculty member in Educational Leadership, professor and senior scholar of Leadership Studies, co-founder of the Leadership Studies Minor, this award recognizes excellence in research by undergraduate or graduate students in the Staley School of Leadership. Specifically, this research recognizes a graduate student who helped to advance scholarship in the areas of leadership learning and development, building civic capacity, or leading change. Excellence in research may include:

• Author or co-author conference presentations, book chapters, or white papers
• Authorship/co-authorship of peer-reviewed published materials
• Grants that support primary research or innovative instructional methods at the university
• Community-engaged scholarship
• Blog posts or other forms of digital media
• Collaboration with Staley School faculty on research activities
• Serving as a referee, editor, and/or reviewer

Eligibility Criteria:

• If undergraduate, enrolled in the leadership studies certificate/minor, nonprofit leadership certificate, or the global food systems leadership secondary major at time of nomination; OR currently or previously involved in a Staley School co-curricular program
• If graduate, enrolled in a masters or doctoral program at time of nomination
• Completed at least one term in program at time of nomination
• Appointed as a GTA/GA/GRA/Practicum or special project role
• In good academic standing at time of nomination

Past recipients

2026 Madison Neal (undergraduate), Jessíca Ramirez (graduate)

2025 Lidia Lopez-Vazquez (undergraduate), Xatyiswa Maqashalala (graduate)

2024 Carlie Snethen (graduate), Grace Huynh (undergraduate)

2023 Chibuzor Azubuike, Ahmadreza Shamsi Yousefi