The American Economic Association has announced the winners of its awards during the 2026 ASSA Meeting. Key recognitions include the Distinguished Service Award for Elizabeth Asiedu, the Distinguished Economic Education Award for KimMarie McGoldrick, and multiple awards focusing on diversity, gender, and inclusion in economics.

During the recent 2026 ASSA Meeting, the American Economic Association (AEA) recognized outstanding contributors to the economics profession with various awards.

Key Award Winners

• Distinguished Service Award: Elizabeth Asiedu from Howard University was awarded for her significant contributions to economics and mentorship of underrepresented groups, particularly through her work with the Association for the Advancement of African Women Economists.
• Distinguished Economic Education Award: KimMarie McGoldrick from the University of Richmond, recognized for her impactful scholarship and dedication to teaching and mentoring over three decades.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

• Syracuse University’s Department of Economics for the Departmental Seed Grant aimed at promoting diversity through the RAISE program.
• Professional Development Grant for URM Faculty to Muhammad Usman Taj from Midlands Technical College for his research on labor market dynamics.

Additional Honors

• Risav Ganguly from Howard University received the Andrew Brimmer Undergraduate Essay Prize.
• The CSQIEP Award for Outstanding Research Paper in LGBTQ+ Economics was given to Christopher S. Carpenter (Vanderbilt University), Donn Feir (University of Victoria), Krishna Pendakur (Simon Fraser University), and Casey Warman (Dalhousie University) for their paper entitled “Nonbinary and Transgender Identities and Earnings: Evidence from a National Census,” forthcoming in the American Economic Review: Insights.
• Donna Ginther (University of Kansas) received the Carolyn Shaw Bell Award for her research on gender and race in economics.
• Mira Frick (Princeton University) received the 2025 Elaine Bennett Research Prize for her work developing theoretical models that capture real-world data and speak to ongoing empirical debates.
• Janet Yellen was honored with the inaugural Janet L. Yellen Award for Excellence in Public Service extending beyond scholarly research.

For more information about the awards, visit the Awards section of the AEA website.

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