Derek Alderman, Chancellor’s Professor in the Department of Geography and Sustainability, will receive the 2026 Gilbert F. White Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Association of Geographers (AAG). The recognition was announced in early February.

This award recognizes Alderman for his three decades of public engagement and advancements in the field of cultural and social geography. Alderman has worked with museums, city governments, nonprofit organizations, and journalists, fighting for representation of historically marginalized voices in public memorial spaces. He has also worked with the U.S Department of Interior, helping to set landmark principles for how the nation should address disparaging place names. 

This award honors his commitment to geography and his advocacy for public outreach and media engagement, recognizing his leadership, scholarly work, and transformative educational impact.