2008 Senior Fulbright Specialist, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Institutos de Geografía e Historia; Universidad de Talca, Facultad de Arquitectura
2008, Virginia Social Science Association Geographer-Scholar of 2008
2008-2010, Center for Latin American Studies, Advisory Board, University of Florida
2007-2008 Regional Editor, Library of Congress, Latin American Handbook,
2008-2010. Vice-chair, Latin American Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers (elected), 2008-2011
2006-2007 American Geographical Society, “Collaborative Environmental Management in Caribbean Tourist Regions: Linking Geographic Scales of Analysis and Public-Private Partnerships to Foster Sustainable Development” Amount: $58,000 with Korine Kolivras and Bill Galloway
2006 Senior Fulbright Specialist, Uruguay, Universidad ORT, Montevideo
2005 Al Sturm Award for Most Outstanding Faculty Publication, Phi Beta Kappa, Mu Chapter (for Plazas and Barrios)
2004 Carl O. Sauer Distinguished Scholarship Award, Conference of Latinamericanist Geographers
2004 University Alumni Award for Excellence in International Programs, Virginia Tech
2001 Lingua Franca designated 'breakthrough urbanography’ book, Havana: Two Faces of the Antillean Metropolis
2000 College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Creative Achievement Award (for an English and Spanish-language video on Havana’s architecture and urban historical geography)
2000 Lincoln Institute for Land Policy, Cambridge, MA. Latin American Research Award
1999 College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Teaching Excellence Award

1999 University of Florida, Center for Latin American Studies, Latinamericanist Archive Award for on-campus research
1998 Choice Outstanding Book Award for Havana: Two Faces of the Antillean Metropolis (American Library Association)
1998 Distinguished Alumnus Award, Mt. Lebanon High School (Pittsburgh), Elected by 675 students of 1998 graduating class
1997 Lincoln Institute for Land Policy, Cambridge, MA. Latin American Research Award
1992 Academic Specialist, USIA, Pereira, Colombia, Instituto Tecnológico de Pereira
1991 National Science Foundation (NSF) , Geography and Regional Science, with José Borello
1991 Academic Specialist, USIA, Bogotá, Colombia, Universidad Externado,
1989 Kellogg Leadership Fellowship, Semi-finalist
1988-1990 NSF. Geography & Regional Science
1983-84 Fulbright Doctoral Dissertation Award (U.S. Mutual Cultural Exchange Act), U.S. Information Agency (USIA), Santiago, Chile.

1983 Duke University. Summer Fellowship for study abroad in Santiago de Chile, Instituto de Estudios Internacionales, Universidad de Chile, under the auspices of Dr. Arturo Valenzuela.