The Spirit of Democracy Award  

Established in 2022, this award is given in recognition of exemplary leadership from staff (non-faculty, non-senior administrator) in advancing the civic learning and engagement of undergraduate students.

Nominate today.
2022 Award winner

Romy Hübler is the inaugural winner of this award, which honors exemplary leadership from staff in advancing the civic learning and engagement of undergraduate students and the work of AASCU’s American Democracy Project. As a founding member of UMBC’s Center for Democracy and Civic Life, Romy’s energetic and innovative work is integral, relational, organic, and generative—perhaps not surprising, as she is a national leader in developing and disseminating the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Theory of Change. Through her sustained mentorship and skills as an educator, Romy empowers, includes, and inspires students. Her nominators explained that “there is a spirit that permeates the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s work and programs that encompasses hope, imagination, determination, resilience, and community. It is the spirit of democracy, and Romy is the embodiment of that spirit. 

2022 Winner Romy Hübler

Associate Director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

2023 nominations accepted from March 27 through April 21 .

Questions abou the application.

About the award
  • Nominees must be a staff member (defined as non-faculty, non-senior administrator), affiliated for more than five years on an AASCU campus, who demonstrates leadership in advancing the civic learning and engagement of undergraduate students. 
  • Nominations must include an endorsement from campus leadership, the nominee’s curriculum vita, and additional documents that provide examples of the nominee’s sustained leadership in advancing civic learning and infusing equity into their work. 
  • Presentation: Annually in person at the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement conference in June and a virtual acknowledgment will be made at AASCU’s Annual Meeting in November.
  • Recipients will receive a commemorative to acknowledge the national recognition.
  • 2022: Romy Hübler, University of Maryland, Baltimore County 

Questions about the Spirit of Democracy Award?

2023 nominations accepted from March 27 through April 21.

"*" indicates required fields