Awards and Recognition
Since 1946, AIR has been building bridges between knowledge and action by conducting research, providing technical assistance, and informing policy.
Organizations have recognized AIR's work, expertise, and commitment to corporate social responsibility. View our awards in social impact and communications and design, as well as accolades our individual experts have received.
Social Impact
2024
Anthem Awards
AIR has been honored with an Anthem Award for how it shared the work of the AIR Opportunity Fund, a $225 million effort dedicated to working alongside our partners to improve education and workforce development, promote safe and secure neighborhoods, and enhance health outcomes and community well-being. The Anthem Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, recognizes innovation in the work of mission-driven organizations committed to amplifying social impact causes that spark global change.
AIR has won two Anthem Awards for its work operating the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center’s (MSKTC), which translates health information into easy-to-understand language and formats for people living with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and burn injury and their families and caregivers.
Communications and Design
2026
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center's video on recovering from disorders of consciousness won a gold Viddy Award, administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, and a silver Telly Award, which honors excellence in video and television across all screens.
The video follows the powerful true story of Hannah Strom, a young woman who survived a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Through her journey—and the experiences of patients, families, and clinicians—it explores how consciousness can slowly return, why early prognoses are often uncertain, and how specialized inpatient rehabilitation can change outcomes after severe brain injury.
2025
Hermes Creative Awards, the 46th Annual Telly Awards, and the Digital Health Awards
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center's video on return to school after burn injury won the highest honor of the Hermes Creative Awards, which is the world largest and longest running creative awards competition.
The educational video, which follows people with burn injuries and their recovery journeys, also won the Gold Telly Award in the general not-for-profit category and the Gold Digital Health Award in the Government Division for Consumers and Health Professionals.
2024
Ragan’s Employee Communications Awards
AIR Weekly, AIR’s internal employee newsletter, has been named a finalist in Ragan Communications and PR Daily's 2024 Employee Communications Awards. The award recognizes outstanding internal communications campaigns, and shines a spotlight on companies that excel in fostering effective engagement and collaboration.
AIR was named a winner of the 2024 Astrid Awards by MerComm, an international awards organization dedicated to defining the standards of excellence in communications. The AIR-operated Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center’s (MSKTC)’s website won silver recognition in website redesign.
2023
AIR won several MarCom Awards, which recognize excellence in marketing and communication. The AIR Opportunity Fund’s annual report received platinum recognition for exceptional publication design. The time-lapse video of Blanchie Kelley, AIR retired chief of staff and assistant secretary to the Board of Directors, won gold in design.
2022
dotComm Awards
AIR was named a winner of the 2022 dotCOMM Awards, honoring excellence in web creativity and digital communication. AIR's website received the gold award for exceptional website redesign among more than 2,500 entries.
AIR Experts
2024
AIR President and CEO Jessica Heppen has been named one of Washingtonian Magazine’s 500 Most Influential People in Washington, D.C. for 2024. The annual list highlights leading experts and advocates outside the government who are playing instrumental roles in shaping policy reform.
AIR Workforce Experts Win Innovations in Assessment Award
Workforce experts from AIR, along with researchers from American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), were honored with the 2024 Innovations in Assessment Award for the development and application of a groundbreaking methodology for analyzing the accounting profession.
2022
Top Women in Communications Award from Ragan PR and PR Daily
AIR Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Makini Nyanteh received the Top Women in Communications Award. Nyanteh was recognized in the “Bridge Builder” category for her ability to bring people together and work in pursuit of AIR’s mission.
AIR Experts Recognized for 2021 JREE Outstanding Article Award
The work of five AIR experts (Mengli Song, Andrew J. Wayne, Michael S. Garet, Seth Brown, and Jordan Rickles) gained recognition with the 2021 Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness (JREE) Outstanding Article award for their article, Impact of Providing Teachers and Principals with Performance Feedback on Their Practice and Student Achievement: Evidence from a Large-Scale, Randomized Experiment.
Roddy Theobald Wins the 2022 AEFP Early Career Award
In 2022, Roddy Theobald was the recipient of the Early Career award from the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP). Each year, AEFP recognizes one outstanding early career scholar whose research makes a significant contribution to the field of education finance and policy.