The Hazel Dayton Gunn Golden Pencil and Platinum Pencil Awards

The Golden Pencil Award was initiated by RRPE Managing Editor, Hazel Dayton Gunn, in 1997. This highly pretigious and much-coveted award, and accompanying plaque, is bestowed annually upon the editorial board member who, in the opinion of the Managing Editor, has contributed the most to the Review of Radical Political Economics above and beyond the normal activities associated with his/her editorial tasks. In 2016, upon Hazel Dayton Gunn’s retirement as Managing Editor after 20 years of service, the RRPE Editorial Board unanimously voted to rename the Award as, The Hazel Dayton Gunn Golden Pencil Award.

The Platinum Pencil Award was initiated by RRPE Managing Editor, Hazel Dayton Gunn, in 2013. This award goes to the Editorial Board member who has already been honored with the coveted Golden Pencil Award and who, in the opinion of the Managing Editor, continues to contribute significantly to the Review of Radical Political Economics above and beyond the usual work as a board member. In 2016, upon Hazel Dayton Gunn’s retirement as Managing Editor after 20 years of service, the RRPE Editorial Board unanimously voted to rename the Award as, The Hazel Dayton Gunn Platinum Pencil Award.

Current Recipients

2023: Elif Karaçimen, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University; Surbhi Kesar, SOAS; Mehrene Larudee, Independent
Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipients, RRPE Managing Editor Enid Arvidson says:

“Elif Karaçimen has served on the RRPE Editorial Board since 2016. She has been a key reviewer for submissions on financialization, gender, and/or economic development in Turkey. Currently she is spearheading the special issue collective on Covid and Capitalism—the collective has rather strong personalities (reviewers as well as authors), and on more than one occasion, she has judiciously managed to allay volatile situations. She holds a PhD from SOAS, is faculty of Economics at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University in Rize, and is currently Visiting Fellow at The Open University in Milton Keynes.

“Surbhi Kesar is in her first term as member of the RRPE Editorial Board, and in that short time she has made many valuable contributions to the journal. Most helpfully, she has revitalized the RRPE Twitter (I guess it’s now called X) account, an important part of RRPE’s social media presence. She also has joined two special issue/symposium collectives and has made vital contributions to each. She holds a PhD from South Asian University and is currently Lecturer at SOAS in London. She is one of my go-to reviewers for submissions on post-structuralism, the informal economy, and/or economic development in India.

“Mehrene Larudee has taken the lead in orchestrating the RRPE Annual Best Paper Award for a number of years, which has been a crucial aspect of RRPE’s activities. Mehrene holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and initially served on the RRPE Editorial Board in the early ’90s. She rejoined the Board in 2006 and has served on the Board since then, bringing useful institutional memory to current Ed Board discussions. Mehrene’s training has enabled her to review a wide variety of manuscripts, especially math-heavy papers, and her reviews are consistently detailed, careful, and thoughtful. With many thanks for all her work, she is now stepping down from the Board as well as her leadership role in the Best Paper Award process. Her vital contributions to the journal will be missed and are reflected in the fact that this is the second time she has received this award.”

Previous Recipients

2022: Sara Cantillon (Golden Pencil Award), Glasgow Caledonian University, and Shaianne Osterreich (Platinum Pencil Award), Ithaca College. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Enid Arvidson says: “Sara Cantillon has served on the RRPE Editorial Board for ten years. A major publisher and expert in the areas of gender, households, carework, and poverty and inequality, Sara has been a vital reviewer of submissions on these topics. She also has valuably served as reviewer for “invited” papers such as the David Gordon Memorial Lecture and “What ‘Radical’ Means in the 21st Century” papers. She also is serving on the editorial Collective for the “Covid and Capitalism” special issue. In addition to her many contributions to the journal, Sara spends her time as Director of a research center—the WiSE Center for Economic Justice—and very recently was elected President of the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE). With all these high-level duties, it is not surprising, although with regret, that she is stepping off the Editorial Board. We thank her for her many contributions to the journal and wish her much luck with her current and new endeavors.”

Of this year’s Platinum Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Enid Arvidson says: “Shaianne Osterreich has served on the RRPE Editorial Board for twenty years, and has been a stalwart contributor to many aspects of the journal. She has served on several special issue collectives, including URPE’s 50th Anniversary Special Issue, China and the Global Economy, and most recently RRPE’s seventh special issue on Gender, Women, Feminism, and Radical Political Economics. She has regularly given her time to serve on many subcommittees that conduct and support journal business. Her expertise in feminist economics, labor and work, and globalization and Indonesia/South East Asia, means she has been one of my go-to reviewers for papers on these topics—indeed, the journal has developed a small pipeline with scholars in Indonesia, and Shaianne’s expertise and connections no doubt played a role. Her many contributions and commitment to the journal is reflected in her receipt of the Golden Pencil Award in 2011. Now, as she steps off the Board after twenty years of dedicated and valuable contributions, it is my pleasure to bestow upon her the Hazel Dayton Gunn Platinum Pencil Award. Thank you, Shaianne. We will miss you.”

2021: David Kotz, University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Enid Arvidson says: “David Kotz has been with the RRPE nearly its entire existence, having served terms on the Editorial Board during four different decades: the ’70s, ’90s, the aughts, and the teens-going into the ’20s. One of his strengths as reviewer, which I like to think reflects RRPE’s reviewing practice in general, is evaluating the scholarly quality of a paper on its own terms rather than on whether it’s the paper he would have written on that topic or whether he agrees with the author’s argument. David has also served on two Special Issue Collectives: “China’s Rise in the Global Economy,” and “COVID and Capitalism.” In addition to his role on the Editorial Board, David has published approaching two dozen articles in the journal, many of which appear on RRPE’s “Most Read” and “Most Cited” articles lists. He also has played a strong mentoring role, encouraging UMass PhD students and recent PhD graduates to submit to RRPE, including as his coauthors. Now as he steps down from the Editorial Board (hopefully not for the last time), we thank him for his many valuable contributions, and I am pleased to confer upon him the Hazel Dayton Gunn Golden Pencil Award.”

2020: The Managing Editor did not grant a Golden Pencil Award for 2020.

2019: Brigitte Bechtold, Central Michigan University, and Zoe Sherman, Merrimack College. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipients, RRPE Managing Editor Enid Arvidson says: “Brigitte Bechtold has served on the Editorial Board for nearly twenty years, and is an unwavering contributor to the workings of the RRPE. She has served on many special issue collectives, mostly recently the special issue on Crisis in the European Union (49:3). The breadth and depth of her training and knowledge allows her to serve on many different kinds of review panels, which is extremely valuable. Her value and commitment to the journal is reflected in her receipt of the Golden Pencil Award once before, in 2002. We are grateful that Brigitte continues to serve on the Board. Zoe Sherman has, in short, been a kickass reviewer during her now-five years on the Editorial Board. She never turns down an ‘invitation’ to review, and her reviews are always thoughtful and engaging. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, she specializes in the commodification of audience attention. She is also a member of the Dollars and Sense collective. We are grateful to have Zoe on the Board.”

2018: Marlene Kim, University of Massachusetts-Boston. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Enid Arvidson says: “In 2018, RRPE celebrated its 50-year anniversary by publishing a special issue, entitled ‘URPE at Fifty.’ RRPE practice is that special issues are edited by a special issue collective—and for the 50th  Anniversary Special Issue Collective, Marlene Kim played a spearheading role. From drafting the initial call for papers, to reaching out to and recruiting potential authors, to reviewing many of the submissions, to interviewing dozens of founding URPE members, to authoring four pieces for the special issue, Marlene notably did much of the legwork to help bring what was a promising idea in 2015 to full fruition in 2018. Other members of the 50th Anniversary special issue collective include Mark Klinedinst, Gary Mongiovi, Shaianne Osterreich, and Ramaa Vasudevan—all of whom contributed many hours and significant effort to produce the ‘URPE at Fifty’ special issue, and Marlene’s leadership role is appreciated by all. Thank you, Marlene.”

2017: David Barkin, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana. The Managing Editor, Enid Arvidson, did not grant a Golden Pencil Award for 2017. Instead, she granted a “Golden Quill Award” to David Barkin, who is stepping down as RRPE Book Review Editor after 17 years of service. Of this year’s Golden Quill Award recipient, the Managing Editor says: “David Barkin joined the Editorial Board in 1991, and became Book Review Editor in 2001. During his time on the Editorial Board, David was instrumental in the RRPE digitization effort, which enabled all back issues of RRPE to be digitized and available online. He also worked on finding campus liaisons/representatives to network with RRPE/URPE—all this, while also publishing a dozen articles/book reviews/conference papers in the RRPE, as well as serving on several special issue collectives. In 2001, Hazel Gunn honored his service and work with that year’s Golden Pencil Award. Hazel’s recognition of his effort did not go to his head, and he maintained his work and contributions such that, in 2013, she again recognized his service with the Platinum Pencil Award. Now, as he steps down as Book Review Editor and in recognition of his 17 years in that role and 27 years on the Editorial Board, I am pleased to confer upon him the Hazel Dayton Gunn Golden Quill Award.”

2016: Mehrene Larudee, Hampshire College. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Enid Arvidson says: “Mehrene Larudee was instrumental in the transition to a new managing editor in 2016. Her roles in handling the copy editing of accepted papers, compiling a style sheet for the copy editors, and consulting on editorial issues were invaluable. Mehrene initially served on the RRPE Editorial Board in the early ’90s, and rejoined the Board in 2006 and has served on the Board since then. She is a careful and thorough reviewer, and her analytical skills are extremely valuable on the Board. Thanks again to Mehrene for her work and many contributions to the RRPE.”

2015: Christopher Gunn, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The Managing Editor, Enid Arvidson, did not grant a Golden Pencil Award for 2015. Instead, she granted a “Golden Quill Award” to Christopher Gunn, who is retiring from the Editorial Board after 28 consecutive years of service. Of this year’s Golden Quill Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Enid Arvidson says: “To my knowledge, Chris is the longest serving Editorial Board member in the history of the journal, at least he’s served the longest consecutive term in the history of the RRPE—28 years! Chris has made immeasurable contributions to the RRPE over the years, serving as reviewer of countless manuscripts, member of Special Issue Collectives, as well as author of papers and book reviews published in the journal. He has been an unflagging and dedicated participant in all journal business over the years which, to a small degree, is recognized in his receipt of the 2000 Golden Pencil Award. He will be missed.”

2014: Dorene Isenberg, University of Redlands. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “Dorene Isenberg has been an editorial board member since 2006. She is a loyal and enthusiastic contributor to the workings of the editorial board, most recently serving on the search committee for the new managing editor. Her contributions to URPE predate her stint on the editorial board; in the early 2000s she was a habitual volunteer at the URPE/RRPE booth at the ASSA meetings. Dorene is that rarity of a woman whose areas of expertise include Marx, Keynes, and the financial sector.”

Don Goldstein, Allegheny College. Of this year’s Platinum Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “Don Goldstein of Allegheny College was awarded the Golden Pencil in 2005. He continues in his quiet, thoughtful way to be leader on the editorial board. Indeed, as one editorial board member told me, “I wait to hear what Don says about an issue. It is usually right.” Don recently served on the search committee for the new managing editor. Humble, and oh so deserving.”

2013: David Barkin, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, and Gary Mongiovi, Saint John’s University. Of this year’s Platinum Pencil Award recipients, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “David Barkin has been on the board since 1991, and continues to serve as book review editor, which entails finding people to review books and serving as editorial coordinator on every book review. This is an immense time commitment. He also belongs to several special issue collectives and reviews papers on Latin America and on the environment. Gary Mongiovi has been on the board since 1994. He is the go-to person for resolution of many of the contentious issues that arise in the course of administration of the journal’s business. I cannot recall a time when I have asked Gary to help with something and he has said ‘no.’ Remarkable.”

2012: William Dugger, University of Tulsa. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “The RRPE 2012 Golden Pencil Award was presented to William Dugger of The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK. The Golden Pencil goes to the member of the editorial board who, in the opinion of the managing editor, has most generously gone beyond their regular duties to contribute to the business of the journal. Bill has scrupulously examined every quarterly financial statement of the RRPE. He has been exceptionally gracious about his assigned reviews and editorial coordinator (EC) designations. Indeed, he shines in his role of EC, supporting and assisting authors to bring their submissions to publishable form. Bill is one of our most humble stars on the board, and we are most fortunate to count him among our ranks.”

Also in 2012, the Managing Editor granted one “Friends of the RRPE Award,” to Robin Chang for his work on seeking out authors for the special section “What Radical Means in the 21st Century” which has greatly elevated the profile of the journal’s contents, especially to those who have not been regular subscribers. He received a letter from the Managing Editor and a free one-year subscription to the journal.

2011: Shaianne Osterreich, Ithaca College. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “The 2011 Golden Pencil Award was presented to Shaianne Osterreich of Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York at the April meeting of the Review of Radical Political Economics editorial board in New York City. The Golden Pencil goes to the editorial board member who, in the opinion of the managing editor, has done the most for the journal above and beyond their normal duties. A graduate of the University of Utah, Shaianne has served on the board since 2005, and has a wide range of areas of expertise including feminist economics and international trade, development, and finance. She devised and conducted the first formal survey of the board to determine preferred time and place of our spring meeting and argued convincingly to move the meeting to Chicago from New York City every third year. Shaianne is an outspoken, thoughtful, and active member of the board. We are fortunate to have her.”

2010: Marlene Kim, University of Massachusetts Boston. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “It is my pleasure to announce that Marlene Kim is the winner of the 2009 Golden Pencil award. The Golden Pencil goes to the editorial board member who, in the opinion of the managing editor, has contributed the most to the RRPE, above and beyond the normal duties of a board member. Marlene produced our first Podcast, interviewing David Kotz. (Listen to the podcast.) She was a great help in arranging the January 2009 San Francisco reality tour of Chinatown during the Allied Social Science Association annual meeting. She is an enthusiastic and thorough reviewer. And, in our editorial board meetings, Marlene’s experience in working in other organizations helps guide our deliberations. Thanks to Marlene for a job well done.”

2009: The Managing Editor did not grant a Golden Pencil Award for 2009.

2008: The Managing Editor did not grant a Golden Pencil Award for 2008. Instead, she again granted two “Friends of the RRPE Awards,” one to Fred Moseley, Mt Holyoke College, for his work on ASSA panels that lead us to publish the proceedings issue, and his many contributions in terms of serving as an outside reviewer; and one to Peter Dorman, Evergreen State College, who serves as editor of the pedagogy section of the journal. Fred and Peter received a letter from the Managing Editor and a free one-year subscription to the journal.

2007: The Managing Editor did not grant a Golden Pencil Award for 2007. Instead, she granted two “Friends of the RRPE Awards,” one to Paul Altesman for his work on the book store project, and one to Lane Vanderslice for his efforts in organizing the 40th RRPE/URPE anniversary panel in New Orleans. Each awardee received a letter from the Managing Editor and a free one-year subscription to the journal.

2006: Enid Arvidson, University of Texas Arlington. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “It is with great pleasure that I announce the recipient of the 2006 Golden Pencil Award: Enid Arvidson. Enid volunteered to serve as Web master for the RRPE section of the URPE Web site. She has fulfilled that job admirably. She also has spent considerable time and energy working with a Web site designer to improve our presence on the Web. We hope to have the new design up and running in soon. Thank you, Enid.”

2005: Don Goldstein, Allegheny College. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “This highly coveted award was presented to Don Goldstein at the April 2006 editorial board meeting in New York City to much fanfare. Don has been on the board since 1988 with one brief hiatus. During his 17 years as a board member Don has exhibited wise counsel, subtle leadership, and diplomacy. He is that rare individual who uses intelligence, reasoned thinking, and kindness to help guide the journal. He is a true asset to the RRPE and URPE. Our heartfelt thanks to Don Goldstein.”

2004: John Willoughby, American University. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “I am pleased to announce the recipient of the “prestigious” 2004 Golden Pencil Award: John Willoughby of American University. John has served a total of 10 years on the board (and 3 on the steering committee). A seemingly mild mannered Clark Kent sort of person, he is among the first to respond to a call for help. His real contribution in recent history is as an ambassador of peace while serving on two special issue collectives: Iran and globalization. Both collectives had rather strong personalities (reviewers as well as authors), and on more than one occasion John managed to calm volatile situations. One reason John rejoined the editorial board was to promote articles dealing with the Middle East and Africa, and to this end he has been successful. Our thanks to ‘our man in Washington,’ John Willoughby.”

2003: Bruce Pietrykowski, University of Michigan Dearborn. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “The recipient of the seventh annual Golden Pencil award is Bruce Pietrykowski. Bruce has served on the editorial board for eight years. He has taken the lead on two special issue collectives. His most recent contribution has been to convince the archival librarian at Cornell University to maintain the records of papers that have been rejected in the review process so that future historians can more fully understand phases in radical political economics. (Cornell University houses the URPE/RRPE archives, established here by Howard Wachtel.) Our collective thanks, Bruce, for a job well done.”

2002: Brigitte Bechtold, Central Michigan University. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “It is my distinct pleasure to announce that Brigitte Bechtold is the 2002 recipient of the coveted RRPE Golden Pencil Award. Brigitte began her academic career as an economist and sequed into sociology, making her areas of expertise extraordinarily broad. She is a feminist and a labor advocate. When I do not have a full review panel for a submission, Brigitte invariably volunteers. This is a reflection of both the breadth of her knowledge and her enthusiasm as an editorial board member. That enthusiasm has led her to be an organizer for the special issue on the political economy of art and a possible special issue on freedom. She is the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Golden Pencil. Our thanks to Brigitte Bechtold.”

2001: David Barkin, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “It is my pleasure to announce that the recipient of the Review of Radical Political Economics 2001 Golden Pencil Award is David Barkin. David has served on the board for a total of 17 years. He is continuing his tenure as Book Review Editor; in that capacity he has increased the yearly number of book review submissions by a wide margin. David brings his expertise on Latin American and environmental issues to the journal. We are grateful.”

2000: Christopher Gunn, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “The fifth annual Golden Pencil Award went this year to Christopher Gunn. Christopher has served on the editorial board for 12 years, was book review editor for 5 years, and is currently serving a 2-year term on the URPE steering committee. His invaluable personal support and wise counsel have enabled the managing editor to maintain the equilibrium needed to cope with [our recent crisis]. The coveted plaque was presented to Christopher at the April editorial board meeting to much applause.”

1999: John McDermott, State University of New York. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “The 1999 recipient of the Golden Pencil Award is John McDermott. John took up the issue of equal compensation with the national office coordinator for the managing editor. In the course of his long, but now successful, journey, he raised budgetary questions that will positively impact URPE in the future. John is a steadfast, long-term member of the editorial board, who finds time to work closely with authors to refine submissions. It would be fair to say that without John’s gentle but insistent tutelage, quite a few articles would not have been published in our journal. Congratulations to a friend of URPE and the RRPE.”

1998: Gary Mongiovi, St. Johns University. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “The 1998 Golden Pencil Award was presented to Gary Mongiovi at the April editorial board meeting. Gary acted as liaison between myself and his lawyer colleague in our efforts to improve conditions with JAI Press. He represented the editorial board’s point of view in the steering committee’s decisions on pay raises for URPE personnel. He has been an advisor in his capacity as fellow editor of an economics journal (Review of Political Economy or ROPE). He is a steadfast friend and comrade to the RRPE and URPE. Congratulations, Gary Mongiovi.”

1997: Gil Skillman, Wesleyan University. Of this year’s Golden Pencil Award recipient, RRPE Managing Editor Hazel Gunn says: “At the annual Review of Radical Political Economics Editorial Board meeting held in New York City on April 12 and 13, the first annual Golden Pencil Award was presented to Gil Skillman of Wesleyan University. Gil’s crucial role in the negotiations with Blackwell Publishers and JAI Press resulted in a contract highly beneficial to URPE. Gil was able to empirically test game theory while working to attain the coveted Golden Pencil.”

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