The CCCC Wikipedia Initiative is thrilled to announce Dr. Matthew Vetter—associate professor of English at Indiana University of Pennsylvania—as the 2023 recipient of the CCCC Wikipedia Initiative Award for Contributions to Public Knowledge. This award provides professional recognition for a CCCC member who is engaging with Wikipedia as a form of global public scholarship. It values significant contributions to Wikipedia articles as they improve public understanding of key topics within our profession.
As a dedicated Wikipedia editor, Dr. Vetter has contributed more than 3,000 edits since he began editing in 2011. He has created and contributed to many Wikipedia articles on prominent scholars and key topics within writing studies, including Victor Villanueva, Amy Devitt, Cheryl E. Ball, Linda Adler-Kassner, visual rhetoric, digital rhetoric, and collaborative writing. He consistently demonstrates high-level collaboration skills with scholars working to increase knowledge equity within our field and in the wider Wikipedia community.
As a high-traffic, global, open-access, digital encyclopedia, Wikipedia stands out as one of the most vital platforms scholars can edit to support citation justice, especially for academics committed to knowledge equity as a fundamental groundwork for social justice. We applaud Dr. Vetter’s work to these ends.
Nomination Deadline: March 1
Purpose: As one of the most visited websites in the world, Wikipedia has emerged within living memory as a key knowledge-broker and perception-shaper for readers and writers worldwide. The award exists to provide professional recognition for CCCC members who are engaging with Wikipedia as a form of global public scholarship. It values significant contributions to Wikipedia articles as they improve public understanding of key topics within our profession. Writing expert knowledge into Wikipedia is one important way we can address knowledge gaps, imbalances, and misinformation online.
Eligibility: To be eligible for an award, the nominee or at least one member of a nominated group must be a member of CCCC and/or NCTE at the time of nomination. Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged.
Award Specifics: Nominations must be received by March 1, 2023 and must include a brief statement describing contributions and how they have the potential to affect a broad public audience and/or relate to improving knowledge inequities online. There will be an option to add attachments to include work completed (e.g. Wikipedia articles and/or article sections created, Wikipedia articles significantly revised or expanded, Wikipedia contributions across related articles, etc.). Submit a nomination.
