PHILADELPHIA –- Shaun Harper, an assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, has been honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Research Award by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators at its annual conference.

The award recognizes an individual’s professional commitment to student-affairs administration. Nominees for the award are judged on how well student-affairs practitioners use their literature or research, which must be applicable to national use.

“NASPA is the preeminent association serving practitioners who are responsible for student life and student activities on college and university campuses,” Matt Hartley, chair of the Higher Education Department at Penn GSE, said. “Its recognition of Shaun’s research is not only a terrific validation of the quality and influence of his work, it’s also a very nice feather in Penn’s cap.”

A nationally recognized researcher and leading expert on black male college access and achievement as well as racial inequities and gender disparities in higher education, Harper is credited with shifting the focus of research from deficits to examining black male college students’ success.