Distinguished Alumni Awards

The NYU Alumni Association is proud to recognize outstanding graduates for their exceptional personal and professional achievements. Awardees are selected through a comprehensive nomination and evaluation process by the Awards Committee of the NYUAA Board. Their contributions to their communities and around the world exemplify NYU’s spirit. Each spring, honorees are recognized at the NYU Alumni Awards luncheon in New York City.

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Man in suit presenting award at NYU Alumni Awards ceremony Aerial view of the seating area at the NYU Alumni Awards ceremoney Man accepting award on stage Group photo at a table at the NYU Alumni Awards ceremony Group of people taking a photo in front of NYU Alumni banner A woman and man posing with an honoree

Recent Honorees

These honorees exemplify NYU's spirit through their contributions to their communities and around the world.

  • William R. Berkley
    Meet William

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service

    William R. Berkley

    STERN ’66

    Chair Emeritus, NYU Board of Trustees

    William R. Berkley (STERN ’66) [he/him] founded W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Fortune 500 property-casualty insurance holding company, in 1967. During his career, he has also founded a number of other public and private companies. He has been a member of the NYU Board of Trustees since 1995 and served as chair from 2015–2023. He also serves as a member of the NYU Langone Health Board of Trustees, NYU Stern School of Business Executive Board (former chairman), and NYU President’s Global Council. He has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Georgetown University, where he helped create the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, which is devoted to fostering interreligious dialogue with a goal of improving global cultural understanding. Berkley served as Chairman of Achievement First, a group of charter schools operating in the New York metropolitan area, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. He is also a former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut.
  • Don Katz
    Meet Don

    Distinguished Alumni Award

    Don Katz

    WSC ’74

    Founder, Audible, Inc.

    Don Katz [he/him] is the founder of Audible, Inc., the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Newark, NJ, since 2007, Audible serves millions of listeners and offers 800,000 downloadable Audible Originals, audiobooks, and other programs. Katz served as CEO of Audible from the company’s founding until 2020, when he moved into an executive chairman and then an advisory role. Prior to founding Audible, Katz was an award-winning journalist and author for twenty years.
  • Keia Clarke
    Meet Keia

    Distinguished Alumni Award

    Keia Clarke

    SPS ’06

    CEO, New York Liberty

    Keia Clarke, CEO [she/her] of the New York Liberty, spearheads all aspects of the organization’s business, overseeing P&L, operations, and strategic planning. With a pivotal role in the team’s successful transition to Barclays Center in 2021, she brings 14 years of experience with the Liberty, previously serving as COO and in various positions within the organization. Recognized for her achievements, Clarke has received numerous accolades from prominent publications including Crain's New York Business, Adweek, Sports Business Journal, and CNBC and received the NYU SPS Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020, solidifying her standing among distinguished women in sports business.
  • Melissa T. Ojemeni
    Meet Melissa

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award

    Melissa T. Ojemeni

    MEYERS ’18

    Deputy Chief Nursing Office, Partners In Health

    Melissa T. Ojemeni RN, PhD, [she/her] serves as the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at Partners In Health, providing strategic oversight to strengthen nursing and midwifery practice in eight countries. With over 15 years of experience in bedside nursing and teaching, Melissa strongly advocates for frontline worker participation in decision-making. Dr. Ojemeni has collaborated with both non-profit and educational institutions to advance the nursing profession through health services research, leadership capacity building, and workforce development.

Award Categories

These four awards are presented annually to alumni who embody the spirit and distinction that defines NYU.

Presented to a respected and distinguished public figure of recognized stature or identity who has clearly demonstrated a record of outstanding public service in their professional, vocational, social, and cultural endeavors, and who, by receiving this award, brings honor to the University.

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Presented to a respected and distinguished graduate of any school, college, or division of NYU who has demonstrated extraordinary achievement and/or service in their professional, vocational, social, and cultural endeavors, and who deserves acknowledgement as embodying the spirit of distinction that brings pride to the University.

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The Distinguished Young Alumnus award is presented to an outstanding graduate of any school, college, or division of NYU who is under the age of 40. This alumnus/a has demonstrated sustained excellence in their professional, vocational, social, and cultural endeavors, and who deserves acknowledgement as embodying the spirit of distinction that brings pride to the University.

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From time to time, the President of the University bestows upon an outstanding alumnus/a the President’s Alumni Achievement Award in recognition of exemplary accomplishment in the professional sector, as well as for unwavering dedication and commitment to bettering the life of the University community.

When this award is presented, it is given during the NYU Alumni Association’s Annual Meeting, which is held at the end of each academic year.

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Distinguished Alumni
Awards Directory

View past NYUAA award honorees from 2014 to today. Honorees prior from 2013 and earlier are available in a list below. To reset filters, scroll back to the default title (i.e., if using the Industry filter, navigate back to the word Industry at the top of the filter.)

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  • Ted Allen (GSAS ’90) 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award

    Ted Allen

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    GSAS ’90
    2015
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Martin Cohen (STERN ’76)

    Martin Cohen

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    STERN ’76
    2015
    Finance

  • Carmen Guillén Fariña (STEINHARDT ’65)

    Carmen Guillén Fariña

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    STEINHARDT ’65
    2015
    Education

  • Ruth Gruber (WSC ’30)

    Ruth Gruber

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    WSC ’30
    2015

  • Cristi Marie Hegranes (GSAS ’05)

    Cristi Marie Hegranes

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    GSAS ’05
    2015
    Journalism

  • John Sexton

    John Sexton

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service

    2016
    Education

  • Jonathan Mechanic (LAW '77)

    Jonathan Mechanic

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    LAW ’77
    2016
    Real Estate

  • Jonathan Woodson (GSM '79)

    Jonathan Woodson

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    GSM '79
    2016
    Public Service

  • Ruthie Ann Miles (STEINHARDT ’07)

    Ruthie Ann Miles

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    STEINHARDT ’07
    2016
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Martin Lipton (LAW ’55)

    Martin Lipton

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    LAW ’55
    2017
    Law

  • John Patrick Shanley (STEINHARDT ’77, HON ’09)

    John Patrick Shanley

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    STEINHARDT ’77, HON ’09
    2017
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Ali Stroker (TSOA ’09)

    Ali Stroker

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    TSOA ’09
    2017
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Lee Morin (GSAS ’78, ’82, MED ’81)

    Lee Morin

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    GSAS ’78, ’82, MED ’81
    2018
    STEM

  • Anthony Foxx (LAW ’96)

    Anthony Foxx

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    LAW ’96
    2018
    Public Service

  • George S. Barrett (STERN ’88)

    George S. Barrett

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    STERN ’88
    2018
    Healthcare

  • Billy Rosa (TSOA ’04, MEYERS ’09)

    Billy Rosa

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    TSOA ’04, MEYERS ’09
    2018
    Healthcare

  • Lindsey Ferrentino (TSOA ’09)

    Lindsey Ferrentino

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    TSOA ’09
    2018
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Hakeem Jeffries (LAW ’97)

    Hakeem Jeffries

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    LAW '97
    2019
    Public Service

  • Neil Garg (CAS ’00)

    Neil Garg

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    CAS ’00
    2019
    STEM

  • Emanuel Azenberg (ARTS ’55)

    Emanuel Azenberg

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    ARTS ’55
    2019
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Ian Axel and Chad King (both STEINHARDT ’07)

    Chad King

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    STEINHARDT ’07
    2019
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Ian Axel and Chad King (both STEINHARDT ’07)

    Ian Axel

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    STEINHARDT ’07
    2019
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Erin Schrode (CAS ’13)

    Erin Schrode

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    CAS ’13
    2019
    Public Service

  • Chris Harrison (CAS ’05, CIMS ’06)

    Chris Harrison

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    CAS ’05, CIMS ’06
    2014

  • Winston W. Ma (LAW ’98)

    Winston W. Ma

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    LAW ’98
    2014
    Finance

  • Rachel A. Robinson (NUR ’61, HON ’96)

    Rachel A. Robinson

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    MEYERS ’61, HON ’96
    2014
    Non-Profit

  • Edith S. Windsor (CIMS ’57)

    Edith S. Windsor

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    CIMS ’57
    2014
    Public Service

  • Zachary Carter (LAW ’75)

    Zachary Carter

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    LAW ’75
    2020/2021
    Public Service

  • André De Shields (GAL ’91)

    André De Shields

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    GAL ’91
    2020/2021
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Nick Grassi (GLS ’12)

    Nick Grassi

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    GLS ’12
    2020/2021
    Finance

  • Nily Rozic (CAS ’07)

    Nily Rozic

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    CAS ’07
    2020/2021
    Public Service

  • Christy Turlington Burns in a white sweater

    Christy Turlington Burns

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    GAL '99
    2023
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Eduardo D. Rodriguez

    Eduardo D. Rodriguez

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    DEN '92
    2023
    Healthcare

  • Quemuel Arroyo headshot

    Quemuel Arroyo

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    CAS '12, WAG '20
    2023
    Public Service

  • Jennifer Curry

    Jennifer Curry

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    WAG '07, STEINHARDT '14
    2023
    Non-Profit

  • Rabbi Alvin Kass

    Rabbi Alvin Kass

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    STEINHARDT '76
    2023
    Public Service

  • William R. Berkley

    William R. Berkley

    Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
    STERN '66
    2024
    Finance

  • Don Katz

    Don Katz

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    WSC '74
    2024
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Keia Clarke

    Keia Clarke

    Distinguished Alumni Award
    SPS '06
    2024
    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

  • Melissa T. Ojemeni

    Melissa Ojemeni

    Distinguished Young Alumni Award
    MEYERS '18
    2024
    Healthcare

results found

Distinguished Alumni Honorees 1987 - 2013

View recipients of Distinguished Alumni Awards prior to 2013. To reset filters, scroll back to the default title (i.e., if using the School filter, navigate back to the word "Filter by school" at the top of the filter.)

Name School Award year Award
Charlotte K. Frank STEINHARDT ’00 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award
Jane L. Rosenthal GAL ’77 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award
Lauren A. Burke LAW ’09 2013 Distinguished Young Alumni Award
The Honorable Raymond J. Lohier LAW ’91 2013 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Daniel Barry GSAS ’83 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award
Vasiliki Karlis DEN ’92 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award
Jacqueline Murekatete CAS ’07 2012 Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Alan Greenspan STERN ’48, ’77, GSAS ’50 2012 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Matthew Sapolin WSC ’93, WAG ’96 2012 President’s Alumni Achievement Award
Jill Claster WSC ’52, GSAS’54 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award
Lonnie R. Bristow MED ’57 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award
Melissa Kushner WAG ’06 2011 Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Kenneth R. Feinberg LAW ’70 2011 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Abraham H. Foxman LAW '65 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award
Maria Bartiromo WSC '89 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award
Kelly Kennedy Mack STERN ’02 2009 Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika STEINHARDT ’80 2009 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Charles Simic WSC '67 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award
Patti Scialfa GAL ’75 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award
Richard Cash MED ’66 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award
Jonathan Lippman WSC ’65, LAW ’68 2008 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Allen S. Keller MED '88 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award
Eduardo J. Martí WSC ’64, '66, GSAS ’71 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award
Kathleen A. Corbet STERN '89 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award
Christopher H. Shays STERN ’74, WAG ’78 2007 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Carole Bayer Sager STEINHARDT ’65 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award
Harry T. Stewart, Jr. TANDON ’63 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award
Lee Archer, Jr. GSAS '56 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award
Roscoe C. Brown, Jr STEINHARDT ’49, ’51 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award
The Honorable Carol Bellamy LAW ’68 2006 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Peter David Lax WSC ’47, CIMS ’49 2006 President’s Alumni Achievement Award
Abraham Lackman WSC ’71 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award
Marvin Leffler STERN ’42, ’51 2005, 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award
Ray Suarez WSC ’78 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Dorothy I. Height STEINHARDT ’33, ’35, HON ’75 2005 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Ismail Merchant STERN ’60 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award
Lee M.E. Morin GSAS ’78, ’82, MED ’81 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award
The Honorable Dennis Jacobs GSAS ’65, LAW ’73 2004 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Calvin Ramsey STERN ’59 2004 President’s Alumni Achievement Award
Eric Kandel MED ’56 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award
Philip Coltoff SSSW ’64 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award
Stanley Kasten WSC '73 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award
Raymond W. Kelly LAW ’74 2003 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Alec Baldwin TSOA ’94 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award
Joyce Frances Brown STEINHARDT ’71, ’80 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award
Ruth Gruber WSC ’30 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award
Charles B. Rangel STERN ’57 2002 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Jerome M. Hauer GAL ’75 2000 Distinguished Alumni Award
Martha Craven Nussbaum WSC ’69 2000 Distinguished Alumni Award
Betty Weinberg Ellerin WSC ’50, LAW ’52 2000, 2022 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Distinguished Alumni Award
Clive J. Davis WSC ’53 1999 Distinguished Alumni Award
Rita E. Hauser LAW ’59 1999 Distinguished Alumni Award
Robert S. Ledley DEN ’48 1999 Distinguished Alumni Award
Yale J. Kamisar ARTS ’50 1999 Distinguished Alumni Award
Louis J. Freeh LAW ’84 1999 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Raymond Lump STEINHARDT ’50 1999 President’s Alumni Achievement Award
Cynthia Ozick WSC ’49 1998 Distinguished Alumni Award
David S. Loeb STERN ’51 1998 Distinguished Alumni Award
Peter Westbrook STERN ’75 1998 Distinguished Alumni Award
Philippe de Montebello GSAS ’76 1998 Distinguished Alumni Award
Rudolph W. Giuliani LAW ’68 1998 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Dinshaw J. Patel GSAS ’68 1997 Distinguished Alumni Award
Henry A. Grunwald WSC ’44 1997 Distinguished Alumni Award
Jerry L. Cohen STERN ’53, ’59 1997 Distinguished Alumni Award
Louis K. Salkind GSAS ’90 1997 Distinguished Alumni Award
Scott Elliott GAL ’93 1997 Distinguished Alumni Award
Norman Goodman ARTS ’47, LAW ’50 1997 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Ang Lee TSOA ’84 1996 Distinguished Alumni Award
Judy Blume STEINHARDT ’61 1996 Distinguished Alumni Award
Michael A. Waldman LAW ’87 1996 Distinguished Alumni Award
Max M. Kampelman ARTS ’40, LAW ’45 1996 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Cathy E. Minehan STERN '77 1995 Distinguished Alumni Award
Marcia Gay Harden TSOA '88 1995 Distinguished Alumni Award
Sheila G. Lukins STEINHARDT ’70 1995 Distinguished Alumni Award
Thomas E. Sanders STERN '60 1995 Distinguished Alumni Award
Fernando J. Ferrer ARTS ’72 1995 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Betty Comden STEINHARDT ’37 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award
Harriet Skye GAL ’93 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award
John Alexander Simpson GSAS ’42, ’43 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award
Mark H. Brooks STERN '92 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award
Melvyn I. Weiss LAW ’59 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award
Tabitha Soren WSC '89 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award
Yale Strom GAL ’84 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award
Lewis Rudin STERN ’49 1994 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Alan Menken ARTS '72 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award
LeRoy T. Walker STEINHARDT ’57 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award
Susan Cartsonis TSOA '84 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award
Tamar Schlick GSAS ’85, ’87 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award
Tony Kushner TSOA '84 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award
Judith Smith Kaye LAW ’62 1993 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Edward G. Kaufman DEN '43 1992 Distinguished Alumni Award
Ellen D. Baer STEINHARDT ’73, ’82 1992 Distinguished Alumni Award
Luis R. Cancel STEINHARDT '87 1992 Distinguished Alumni Award
Paul J. Tagliabue LAW '65 1992 Distinguished Alumni Award
Susan Seidelman TSOA '76 1992 Distinguished Alumni Award
John Brademas N/A 1992 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Carl P. Carlucci WAG ’86 1991 Distinguished Alumni Award
Catherine Cowell STEINHARDT ’83 1991 Distinguished Alumni Award
George C. Wolfe TSOA ’84 1991 Distinguished Alumni Award
Henry Kaufman ARTS ’48, STERN '58 1991 Distinguished Alumni Award
Racquel Z. LeGeros GSAS ’57, ’67 1991 Distinguished Alumni Award
Walter F. Loeb WSC ’49 1991 Distinguished Alumni Award
Laura Novoa de Anriquez LAW ’59 1991 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Donald Forman STERN ’48, LAW ’56 1990 Distinguished Alumni Award
Dorothy Strickland STEINHARDT ’58, ’71 1990 Distinguished Alumni Award
Julie Kazimiroff DEN ’80, GSAS ’87 1990 Distinguished Alumni Award
Nancy Uscher STEINHARDT ’80 1990 Distinguished Alumni Award
Wayne Shorter STEINHARDT ’56 1990 Distinguished Alumni Award
Preston Robert Tisch N/A 1990 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Robert B. McKay, Posthumous N/A 1990 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Avram Robert Westin ARTS ’49 1989 Distinguished Alumni Award
Pamela J. Maraldo STEINHARDT ’75 ’86 1989 Distinguished Alumni Award
J. William Middendorf II STERN ’54 1989 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Alan Greenspan STERN ’48, ’77, GSAS ’50 1988 Distinguished Alumni Award
Frances Berko STEINHARDT ’46 1988 Distinguished Alumni Award
Spike Lee TSOA ’82 1988 Distinguished Alumni Award
Edward I. Koch LAW ’48 1988 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service
Milton Babbitt WSC ’35 1987 Distinguished Alumni Award
Oliver Stone TSOA ’71 1987 Distinguished Alumni Award
Robert M. Hayes LAW ’77 1987 Distinguished Alumni Award
Robert Packwood LAW ’57 1987 Distinguished Alumni Award
John S. R. Shad LAW ’59 1987 Eugene J. Keogh Award for Distinguished Public Service

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