Doctoral candidate is 2023 recipient of ACCCJ’s Hong Lu Outstanding Student Service Award
Xiaoshuang Iris Luo, a doctoral candidate in criminology, law and society, is the 2023 recipient of the Hong Lu Outstanding Student Service Award from the Association of Chinese Criminology and Criminal Justice in the United States.
The ACCCJ, a nonprofit, non-political organization for scholarly and professional activities, aims to promote Chinese criminology and criminal justice research, teaching, and learning among academic communities in the U.S., China, Taiwan and the rest of the world. How? By establishing and strengthening academic connections and exchanges among scholars, researchers, students and professionals conducting research in Chinese criminology and criminal justice worldwide.
The website for ACCCJ states that the organization’s mission includes promoting the fully-fledged development of research and studies in criminology and criminal justice in Chinese societies and mentoring young scholars who are interested in comparative criminology and criminal justice involving Chinese societies.
Which brings us to the Hong Lu Outstanding Student Service Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions and services to ACCCJ and is presented to a member who is a full-time graduate student by the nomination deadline. Hong Lu, who made a generous donation to ACCCJ this year to establish the award, is a professor of criminal justice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, specializing in comparative criminology, court and sentencing, the death penalty and sociology of law.
Luo, whose research interests include neighborhoods and crime, crime mapping and spatial analysis, and quantitative methods, has participated in various service work activities on behalf of the ACCCJ, according to the organization.
“Iris has demonstrated a strong ACCCJ service record and among other professional service experiences in the field of criminal justice and criminology,” wrote the Award Committee. “We hope we can keep encouraging students to participate in professional, institutional, and community activities, in which continue to grow their experience in service, teaching, and scholarly work.”
Luo says she is “truly honored” to receive the Hong Lu Outstanding Student Service Award, which includes a certificate and up to $200.
“This recognition means a great deal to me, not only as an acknowledgement of my efforts but also as a testament to the power of community and service,” she says. “Throughout my time at our association, I have been inspired by the spirit of giving back and the belief that service is not merely a duty but a privilege.”
She has served on the ACCCJ Board of Director since 2021.
“I have come across many ACCCJ members over the years, and their willingness to make our association bigger and greater always inspired me to do more,” she says. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the committee members for recognizing my service, but also gratitude to our whole community.”
— Matt Coker