The 2012 McCarthy Award was awarded to Pam Oliver which recognizes lifetime achievement in the scholarship of social movements and collective behavior. Past recipients of the award include Bill Gamson (2011), Doug McAdam (2010), Mayer Zald (2009), Verta Taylor (2008), and John McCarthy (2007). The award ceremony was held in conjunction with the Third Annual Young Scholars Conference. Several social movement "all stars" such as John McCarthy, David Snow, Myra Marx Ferree, Hank Johnston, Daniel Myers and David Meyer were on hand for the celebration to “toast and roast” Pam (see pictures below), offering reflections on Pam’s work and her influence on the field. It was not only a tribute to the Pam’s body of work but also to the collegiality among the senior scholars in our field.
The Young Scholars in Social Movements Conference included an international cast for the first time this year, drawing participants from Italy and Russia. Twelve young scholars presented their work. Many of the "all stars" who were here to celebrate with Pam also attended the Young Scholars Conference. Young and senior scholars came together in both the formal setting (senior scholars serving as discussants for the Young Scholars presentations) and the informal (casual conversations between sessions, walking back to the hotel together, or celebrating late into the night at the hotel bar after the McCarthy Award dinner).
 Daniel Myers |
 David Snow |
 Myra Marx Ferree |
 John McCarthy |
 Hank Johnston |
 David Meyer |