2003/ Distinguished Professor of History, Brooklyn College

2002-03/ Visiting Distinguished Professor of History at Hofstra University

2002/ Selected for the Distinguished Lectureship Series of the Organization of American Historians (3-year term); chosen "favorite professor" in Brooklyn College Yearbook

2001/ Named Broeklundian Professor of History at Brooklyn College; recipient of the Presidential Medal at Hofstra University; named Author of the Year by the Presbyterian Writers Guild.

2000/ Elected a Fellow of the Society of American Historians; awarded the Washington Irving medal by the St. Nicholas Society; recipient of the Wolfe Fellowship, Brooklyn College.

1999/ Pulitzer Prize in History for Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898; recipient of the Brendan Gill Award from the Municipal Art Society; Gotham chosen Best Book of the Year by the New York Society Library; named Claire and Leonard Tow Professor of History for 1999-2000; recipient of the Brooklyn College Award for Creative Achievement.

1998/ Named a "Centennial Historian of New York"

1995/ Voted "Best Core 4 Teacher" by student newspaper, Excelsior

1992/ Recipient of the Wolfe Fellowship, Brooklyn College