Each year, AUBER recognizes the high-quality work of our member centers through the Awards of Excellence in Publications & Websites, as well as the Polzin Prize for Best Paper. These awards are presented during our annual conferences.
Individuals who have made outstanding contributions to AUBER may be nominated for two of the most highly regarded awards, the Fellow of AUBER Award and the prestigious R. Thayne Robson Award.
Awarded during the fall 2024 conference in Boise, Idaho.
Awarded during the fall 2023 conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Awarded during the fall 2022 conference in Pensacola Beach, Florida.
Awarded during the spring 2022 conference in Boulder, Colorado due to COVID.
Awarded during the fall 2020 conference, held online due to COVID.
Awarded during the fall 2019 conference in Savannah, Georgia.
2024 • Boise State University, Idaho Policy Institute
(Special thanks to Karlee May, KM Events)
2023 • University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Business Research;
and Texas A&M University, Texas Real Estate Research Center
2022 • University of West Florida, Haas Center
2022 • University of Colorado Boulder, Leeds School of Business
2019 • Georgia Southern University, Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research
2018 • University of Utah, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
2017 • University of New Mexico, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
2016 • University of Arkansas, Center for Business and Economic Research
2015 • University of Central Florida, Institute for Economic Competitiveness
2014 • Portland State University, Northwest Economic Research Center
2013 • University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
2012 • University of Hawaii, Economic Research Organization (UHERO)
2011 • Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research;
Indiana University, Indiana Business Research Center;
and Purdue University, Center for Regional Development
2010 • West Virginia University, Bureau of Business & Economic Research
2009 • University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Business Research
2008 • Western Washington University, Center for Economics and Business Research
2007 • University of West Florida, Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development
2000 • Indiana University, Indiana Business Research Center
The R. Thayne Robson Award is the highest honor that AUBER awards to an individual for their longtime commitment and service to the organization. To earn the Robson Award, individuals must be AUBER members for at least 15 years, be center directors, have served on the AUBER board of directors and be an economic and public policy leaders in their state. The Robson Award is awarded every other year.
2023 • Sean Snaith, University of Central Florida
2021 • Patrick Barkey, University of Montana
2014 • Paul Polzin, University of Montana
2013 • Marshall Vest, University of Arizona
2012 • Tom Witt, West Virginia University
2008 • Richard Wobbekind, University of Colorado Boulder
2006 • Keith Schwer, University of Nevada Las Vegas
The purpose of this award is to recognize individuals who have provided significant leadership and substantial service to the AUBER organization. Winners in this category have met all—or substantially all—of the established criteria. One award may be given per year. View award criteria.
2023 • John Deskins, West Virginia University
2022 • Bruce Kellison, University of Texas at Austin
2018 • Carl Bonham, University of Hawaii and Jerry Conover, Indiana University
2016 • Carol Rogers, Indiana University
2012 • Stephen Smith, University of Memphis
2009 • Marshall Vest, University of Arizona
2008 • Paul Polzin, University of Montana and Esmael Adibi, Chapman University
2006 • John Gnuschke, University of Memphis and John Knapp, University of Virginia
2004 • Lorena Akioka, University of Georgia and Keith Schwer, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Each honorary member receives his/her individual lifetime membership at the fall business meeting, typically held during fall conference. Honorary members are invited to attend all meetings of the Association and may serve on committees. Honorary members are not eligible to vote or hold elected office in the Association. Honorary members shall pay no annual dues. To submit a name for consideration, please contact the current AUBER President.
2012 • Tom Witt, West Virginia University
The purpose of these awards is to recognize excellence in three areas: electronic publications, print publications and websites. Judging is based on quality and impact of content, visual appeal, synthesis of underlying message, and overall impression.
2024 • Florida Gulf Coast University, Regional Economic Research Institute: Industry Diversification Report (Second Quarter 2024)
2023 • Portland State University, Northwest Economic Research Center: The Power of Music – An Economic Analysis of Oregon’s Emerging Commercial Music Industry
2022 • University of Alabama, Center for Business and Economic Research
2021 • University of Utah, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute (awarded spring 2022 due to COVID)
2019 • Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research
2018 • Indiana University, Business Research Center
2017 • University of Nevada Las Vegas, Center for Business and Economic Research
2014 • University of Arizona, Economic and Business Research Center: Arizona’s Economy
2013 • Middle Tennessee State University, Business and Economic Research Center: Global Commerce
2011 • University of Alabama, Center for Business and Economic Research: Alabama Business
2009 • Indiana University, Business Research Center: InContext
2008 • Ball State University, Bureau of Business Research: 2008 State of the Industry Report: Manufacturing and Logistics in Indiana National Manufacturing and Logistics Report Card
2023 • Middle Tennessee State University, Business and Economic Research Center: “Health Care Industry Nashville MSA 2023: Trends, Scope, and Impact on the Regional Economy”
2022 • University of Nevada Las Vegas, Center for Business and Economic Research: “Population Forecast 2020-2060”
2021 • University of Utah, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute: Utah Informed: Visual Intellection for 2021 (awarded spring 2022 due to COVID)
2020 • University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research: Montana Business Quarterly
2019 • University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research: Montana Business Quarterly
2018 • University of Utah, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute: Utah Informed: Visual Intellection for 2018
2017 • West Virginia University, Bureau of Business and Economic Research: West Virginia Economic Outlook 2017 – 2021
2024 • University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research: Population Estimates – Tennessee State Data Center
2023 • University of West Florida, Haas Center: Achieve Dashboard
2022 • Middle Tennessee State University, Business and Economic Research Center
2021 • University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research (awarded spring 2022 due to COVID)
2020 • University of Hawaii, Economic Research Organization
2019 • University of Alabama, Center for Business and Economic Research
2018 • Indiana University, Business Research Center
2017 • University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
2014 • Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research
2013 • University of Montana – Missoula, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
2012 • University of Nevada – Las Vegas, Center for Business and Economic Research
2011 • University of Hawaii, Economic Research Organization
2010 • University of Arizona, Economic and Business Research Center
2009 • Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research
2008 • Indiana University, Business Research Center
2007 • University of Buffalo – The State University of New York, The Regional Institute
2006 • University of Arizona, Economic and Business Research Center
2005 • University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
2004 • Indiana University, Business Research Center
2003 • University of Alabama, Center for Business and Economic Research
2002 • University of Oklahoma, Center for Economic and Management Research
2001 • University of Arizona, Economic and Business Research Program
2000 • Kenneth F. Wieand, University of South Florida, Center for Economic Development Research
1999 • Douglas P. Woodward, University of South Carolina
1998 • William L. Huth, University of West Florida
1997 • Jerry L. Wall, Northeast Louisiana University, Center for Business & Economic Research
The purpose of this award is to raise the level of academic rigor of conference content; encourage peer-reviewed publication of AUBER papers and presentations; and to provide a more academic experience at the AUBER conference for those who need it. View submission guidelines.
2024 • Jenny H. Liu (Portland State University, Northwest Economic Research Center): Portland State University Economic and Social Impact Study 2024
2023 • Derek Sheehan (University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research): An Assessment of the Potential Impacts of a Montana Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
2019 • Pankaj Patel (Villanova), Srikant Devaraj and Michael Hicks (Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research): Must Access Laws for Opioid Prescription and County Gross Domestic Product
2017 • Timothy Slaper (Indiana University, Business Research Center): An Agglomeration Set on a Hill: Industry Clusters and the Magnetic Attraction of FDI
2019 • Phil Boyum, Georgia Southern University
The following award categories were retired in 2014, and merged with the current publications categories (electronic, print, and websites).
2012 • The Virgina Newsletter – University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
2011 • Measuring Community: A Newsletter of Spokane’s Community Indicators Initiative – Eastern Washington University, Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis
2009 • CBER Open House – Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research
2008 • Promotional Portfolio for the Regional Institute 10th Anniversary Symposium on Change – The Regional Institute, University of Buffalo – The State University of New York
2007 • IBRC promotional brochure – Indiana Business Research Center, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
2006 • Alabama Business – Center for Business and Economic Research, University of Alabama
2005 • Economic and Business Research Center, University of Arizona
2004 • AZB: Arizona Business, Arizona State University, Center for Business Research
2003 • Middle Tennessee State University, Business and Economic Research Center
2002 • University of West Florida, Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development
2001 • L. William Seidman Research Institute, Arizona State University
2000 • Lynn P. Reinke, West Virginia University
2012 • University of Nevada Las Vegas, Center for Business and Economic Research: 2011 Nevada KIDS COUNT data booK
2011 • University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research: 2010 Montana KIDS COUNT data book
2010 • University of Arizona, Economic and Business Research Center: EBR Database Online
2009 • University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research: Florida Statistical Abstract 2008
2008 • University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research: 2007 Montana KIDS COUNT data book
2007 • The Regional Institute, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York: Policy Briefs
2006 • California State University Northridge, San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center: San Fernando Valley Economic Report
2004 • Bureau of Economic and Business Research, University of Florida: Florida Statistical Abstract 2003
2003 • University of Arizona, Economic and Business Research Program
2002 • University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Institute for Economic Advancement
2001 • University of Oklahoma, Center for Economics and Management Research
2000 • Janet Galvez, University of Florida
2014 • Economic Outlooks: 2014 Economic Outlook, West Virginia University, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
2013 • Special Studies, Technical, or Contract Reports: Carbon Tax and Shift: How to Make It Work for Oregon’s Economy, Portland State University, Northwest Economic Research Center
2012 • Economic Outlooks: Colorado Business Economic Outlook 2012, University of Colorado – Boulder, Leeds School of Business
2012 • Special Studies, Technical, or Contract Reports: Economic Impact of the 2011 Western and Southern Open, University of Cincinnati, Economics Center
2011 • Economic Outlooks: Forecast of Georgia and Atlanta, Georgia State University, Economic Forecasting Center
2011 • Special Studies, Technical, or Contract Reports: Montana Manufacturers Survey, University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research,
2010 • Economic Outlooks: Economic and Business Review, Chapman University, Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research
2010 • Special Studies, Technical or Contract Reports: Structure and Economic Impact of Utah’s Coal Industry, University of Utah, Bureau of Economic and Business Research
2009 • Economic Outlooks: Indiana Business Review: Outlook 2009, Indiana University, Business Research Center
2009 • Special Studies, Technical or Contract Reports: Local Government Reform in Indiana, Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research
2008 • Economic Outlooks: 2008 Montana Economic Outlook Seminar booklet, University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
2008 • Special Studies, Technical or Contract Report: The Economic Importance of the Arts & Cultural Industries in Albuquerque and Bernalillo Counties, University of New Mexico, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
2007 • Special Studies, Technical & Contract Reports: Unlocking Rural Competitiveness: The Role of Regional Clusters, Indiana Business Research, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
2006 • Special Studies, Technical & Contract Reports: 2006 Orange County Executive Survey, A. Gary Anderson Center for Business and Economic Research, Chapman University
2005 • Economic Outlooks: University of Alabama, Center for Business and Economic Research
2005 • Special Studies, Technical & Contract Reports: University of Arkansas, Center for Business and Economic Research
2004 • Economic Outlooks: Indiana Business Review, Indiana Business Research Center, Kelly School of Business, Indiana University
2004 • Special Studies, Technical & Contract Reports: The Economic, Demographic and Fiscal Impacts of Closing Hill Air Force Base, Bureau of Economic and Business Research, University of Utah
2003 • Chapman University, A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research
2002 • University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
2001 • Deborah Hamilton, University of Alabama, Center for Business and Economic Research
2000 • Diana Hunter, University of Arizona
2011 • Montana Business Quarterly – Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana
2010 • American Journal of Business – Center for Business and Economic Research, Ball State University
2009 • Indiana Business Review – Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University
2008 • Montana Business Quarterly – Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana
2007 • Tennessee’s Business – Business & Economic Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University
2006 • InContext – Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University
2005 • Montana Business Quarterly – Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana
2004 • Tennessee’s Business – Business and Economic Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University
2003 • Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University
2001 • Bureau of Business and Economic Research/Center for Manpower Studies, University of Memphis
2000 • Horace E. Johns, Middle Tennessee State University
The following award categories were retired and updated in 2000.
1999 • Judy Corwin, Baylor University
1998 • Charles Little, St. Johns University
1997 • Stephen L. Tracy, University of South Dakota
1996 • Horace E. Johns, Middle Tennessee State University
1995 • Marlene Nesary and Shannon Furniss, University of Montana
1994 • Dolores Bell, University of Memphis
1993 • Diana Hunter, University of Arizona
1992 • Tom Woods, California State University,Los Angeles
1991 • Horace E. Johns, Middle Tennessee State University
1990 • Jeanne McDonald, University of Tennessee
1989 • Nan Beams, Arizona State University and Janis Ward, West Virginia University (co-winners)
1988 • Jan Stucker, University of South Carolina
1987 • Ann Cameron, Chapman University
1986 • Jeanne McDonald, University of Tennessee
1985 • Peggy Stanley, Georgia State University
1984 • Marilyn Bamberger, Oklahoma State University
1983 • Mary Lenihan, University of Montana
1999 • Mark Berger, Eric Thompson and Steve Allen, University of Kentucky
1998 • Deborah Hamilton, University of Alabama
1997 • Lynn Reinke, West Virginia University
1996 • Paul R. Zelus, Idaho State University
1995 • Terry Creeth, Indiana University
1994 • Cindy DiPersio*, University of Colorado and Patricia Wickham*, University of Oklahoma (*co-winners)
1993 • Pia Montoya, University of Arizona
1992 • William Bryan and Lori Williamson, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1991 • Lorena Akioka, University of Georgia
1990 • Carlene Hill-Forrest, Wichita State University
1989 • Center for Business Research, St. Cloud University
1988 • Jerry Hembd, University of Wisconsin, Superior
1987 • Deborah Hamilton, University of Alabama
1986 • Julia Martin, University of Virginia
1985 • Lorena Akioka, University of Georgia