COSSA Presents 2023 Distinguished Service Award to American Anthropological Association’s Edward Liebow

COSSA has announced the recognition of Edward Liebow, Executive Director of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) and former Chair of COSSA’s Board of Directors, as the recipient of its 2023 Distinguished Service Award. The award was officially presented in Washington, DC at the Celebration of Social Science Reception on April 24, 2023 as part of COSSA’s 2023 Social Science Advocacy Day activities. More information about the award is available on the COSSA website.

“Ed has dedicated his career to the advancement of the social and behavioral sciences,” says Wendy Naus, COSSA’s Executive Director. “Not only is he a respected scholar in his own right, but Ed continues to give of himself on behalf of the entire social and behavioral science community. I, COSSA, and the research community writ large owe a debt of gratitude to Ed for his leadership, guidance, and friendship.”

Liebow is a cultural anthropologist who has served as AAA’s Executive Director since 2013 following an accomplished career with the Battelle Seattle Research Center conducting research and policy analysis on a variety of issues affecting disadvantaged communities. He was elected Chair of COSSA’s Board of Directors in 2019 and served two full terms in the role, which included stewarding the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. He also serves on the board of the National Humanities Alliance. In 2020, Liebow was selected as a AAAS Fellow for “distinguished contributions to the field of applied anthropology, and particularly for exemplary administration of professional societies and nonprofit research and policy institutions.” Liebow is a longtime affiliate of the University of Washington and received a Ph.D. and M.A. from Arizona State University and B.A. from Carleton College.

The full press release can be found here.