American Studies and GWSS Professor Susan Birrell has received the 2016 Recognition Award (Service to Sport History) from the North American Society for Sport History. The award recognizes "exceptional contributions to the Study of Sport History." The award was presented at the organization’s annual conference in Atlanta, Ga. on May 31.

The North American Society for Sport History was founded in 1972 for the purpose of promoting, stimulating, and encouraging the study, research, and writing of the history of sport.

Birrell is an interdisciplinary scholar who focuses on sport from a critical cultural studies perspective. Her recent research is in the area of sport and film, particularly women and sport films.