PHILADELPHIA — Shaun Harper, a researcher in the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, has been awarded the 2008 Early Career Award from the Association for the Study of Higher Education.

The award is given to a recipient for a significant body of scholarship or a single extraordinary research achievement by a higher education scholar and in recognition of potential for future research.

Harper conducted the largest-ever empirical research study on black male undergraduates, the National Black Male College Achievement Study. Also, he has published four books and more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and other academic publications. He has presented more than 100 research papers, workshops and symposia at national higher education professional conferences.

Harper’s areas of expertise include racism and gender disparities in higher education; African-American male college access and achievement; college environments, student outcomes and engagement; and student affairs at historically black colleges and universities.

Harper joined the Penn GSE faculty in 2007 and is a member of the board of directors for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.