Through Imagine Excellence, our awards program, GWS recognizes outstanding accomplishments in research, administration and management, communications and education, and the promotion of social and environmental justice as they relate to parks, protected/conserved areas, cultural sites, and other forms of place-based conservation.

(September 9, 2026) • The George Wright Society is pleased to announce the winners in the 2026 round of Imagine Excellence, the GWS awards program. The following awards will be presented on October 21 at the 2026 GWS ParkForum at the University of Tennessee Conference Center in downtown Knoxville.

The GWS Social and Environmental Justice Award, given in recognition of excellence in seeking and advocating for inclusive and impartial alternatives that proactively address socioenvironmental justice as it relates to place-based conservation. This is a new award, and the inaugural winner is Dr. Beth Kruse, Assistant Professor of History at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis. Dr. Kruse’s work reflects a sustained commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, access, mentorship, scholarship, and service throughout the parks and conservation profession. Dr. Kruse’s career demonstrates a long-term commitment to preparing future professionals and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities. GWS also wants to recognize the significance of Dr. Kruse’s leadership at an HBCU. Honoring Dr. Kruse’s work highlights the important role HBCUs play in educating and mentoring the next generation of park and conservation professionals and recognizes the contributions these institutions continue to make to the profession.

The GWS Communications Award, given in recognition of excellence in communication, interpretation, or related areas pertaining to the purposes of the Society. This award is given specifically to recognize outstanding efforts in communicating highly technical, scientific/scholarly, or controversial park-related subjects to the public in a clear and understandable manner. The 2026 winner is Dr. Will Rice, an Associate Professor at the University of Montana who has built an outstanding record of translating research into practical communication tools that improve park and protected area management. His work has focused on visitor use, outdoor recreation, access, equity, and human well-being, with findings that have directly informed management decisions across the National Park Service and other public land agencies. Dr. Rice’s research has informed a congressional hearing, a National Academy of Sciences lecture, and communication strategies used by park managers. In partnership with Leave No Trace, he also co-founded the Conservation Communication Collaborative, which develops research-based messaging and visitor communication tools to help protect park resources while improving the visitor experience.

The George Meléndez Wright Award for Excellence, given in recognition of lifetime contributions on behalf of the Society or in furtherance of its purposes. This is the Society’s highest award, and it is reserved for exceptional achievements in any of the areas with which the GWS is concerned. The 2026 winner is Mr. Peter Keller. Throughout a 32-year career in the U.S. federal government, Keller collaboratively led wilderness management programs on public lands while advancing international conservation. His career spanned multiple federal agencies, including service as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wilderness program; leadership roles with the U.S. Forest Service as a regional wilderness program lead; at various roles and organizational levels with the National Park Service; as a Regional Environmental Advisor for Central America/Mexico; and as Biodiversity Advisor for the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau of the U.S. Agency for International Development serving 16 countries. Keller ultimately returned to the BLM and served from 2020–2025 as the National Wilderness Program lead before retirement. He also served as Chair of the Federal Interagency Wilderness Coordination Committee from 2022-2024. Within the BLM, his leadership facilitated the integration of wilderness management principles in planning and implementation efforts spanning over 21 million acres, almost 10 percent of the bureau’s surface estate, as well as enhanced management consistency with adjacent federally managed wilderness areas.

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George Wright Society Award Descriptions

The GWS Social and Environmental Justice Award, given in recognition of excellence in seeking and advocating for inclusive and impartial alternatives that proactively address socioenvironmental justice as it relates to place-based conservation. The nomination can be for a specific project or for long-term excellence, and can recognize current or past achievements. Nominations should highlight how the nominee’s work has: (1) produced beneficial changes in Policy and Governance; (2) increased Access by and Participation of under-represented communities; (3) reduced or removed Barriers (structurally and institutionally) to these groups’ access and participation; (4) created sustained Partnerships and Collaboration; and (5) demonstrated a long-term Ethic of Commitment to social and environmental justice. (Given in even-numbered years)

The GWS Communications Award, given in recognition of excellence in communication, interpretation, or related areas pertaining to the purposes of the Society. This award is given specifically to recognize outstanding efforts in communicating highly technical, scientific/scholarly, or controversial park-related subjects to the public in a clear and understandable manner. The nomination could be for a specific project or for long-term excellence. This award recognizes effective translation of science, scholarship related to cultural resources, and/or management into accessible public-facing communication with documented audience impact. Nominations should highlight how the communications have: (1) have increased Conservation Impact / Achievements through better public engagement and understanding; (2) been based on Scientific/Scholarly Integrity that builds credibility and public trust; (3) shown clear, documented Application to Management while making it understandable to the public; (4) demonstrated Problem Solving in Context; and (5) been accomplished through Collaboration. (Given in even-numbered years)

The other three GWS awards will next be given out at the 2027 GWS ParkForum workshop:

The GWS Cultural Resource Achievement Award, given in recognition of excellence in research, management, or education related to the cultural resources of parks, cultural and historic sites, reserves, protected/conserved areas, and other forms of place-based conservation. (Given in odd-numbered years)

The GWS Natural Resource Achievement Award, given in recognition of excellence in research, management, or education related to the natural resources of parks, reserves, protected/conserved areas, and other forms of place-based conservation. (Given in odd-numbered years)

The GWS Social Science Achievement Award, given in recognition of excellence in social science research, management, or education related to parks, reserves, protected/conserved areas, cultural and historic sites, and other forms of place-based conservation. (Given in odd-numbered years)

GWS awards consist of a plaque, a stipend to help pay the winner’s expenses to the presentation event, and a year’s complimentary membership in the Society.

How do I make a nomination?

Nominations must come from GWS members in good standing. (To check your membership status, send a note to info@georgewright.org.) The person being nominated need not be a member, however.
The nomination must be of an individual, not a group. However, it is permissible to reference the nominee’s involvement with a team in the nomination.
Nominations must be made through the webform below. NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2027 ROUND WILL OPEN IN MAY 2027.

Past award winners

“Imagine Excellence”:

The GWS Awards Program

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