Thomas Jefferson Award


To honor faculty and staff who have significantly enriched the intellectual and civic life of the Emory community, the Thomas Jefferson Award, named and endowed by the Robert Earl McConnell Foundation, is presented annually at Commencement.

The award honors a member of the faculty or staff for significant service to Emory University through personal activities, influence, and leadership, usually over the course of many years.

The recognition also comes with a monetary award of $10,000.

The award recognizes personal and professional integrity as well as distinguished service in one or more of the following areas:

  • Teaching
  • Research and scholarship
  • Non-academic accomplishments related to students
  • University advancement and development in relation to the entire university or to an area, school, or division
  • Community or educational service on the local, state, national, or international level

The Office of the Provost coordinates the annual selection process of the Jefferson Award, starting with a letter sent early in the calendar year to the entire university community to invite nominations.

Any university employee may make a nomination by sending the nominee's CV or resume and an original letter of nomination directed to the attention of the chair and members of the Jefferson Award selection committee.

The chair and selection committee, comprised of the previous four award recipients, will review all nominations and recommend three finalists to the provost, who will make the final selection.

Nominations remain in active status for one year.

List of Recipients

NameSchool | UnitExpertiseYear
Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, PhDEmory CollegeContemplative Science & Compassion-Based Ethics2024
Jon HowellAthleticsSwimming and Diving2023
Jeffrey RosensweigBusiness SchoolFinance2022
Ruth M. ParkerSchool of MedicineMedicine and Public Health2021
Lisa A. TedescoLaney Graduate SchoolDean2020
Jagdish ShethBusiness SchoolMarketing2019
Charles E. MooreSchool of MedicineOtolaryngology2018
Carol HogueSchool of Public HealthEpidemiology2017
Eloise CarterOxford CollegeBiology2016
Bobbi PattersonEmory CollegeReligion2015
Carlos del RioSchool of Public HealthGlobal Health2014
Nadine KaslowSchool of MedicinePsychology2013
Peggy BarlettEmory CollegeAnthropology2012
Dennis C. LiottaEmory CollegeChemistry2011
Rudolph P. ByrdEmory CollegeAfrican American Studies2010
W. Ronald SchuchardEmory CollegeEnglish2009
Rosemary MageeAdministrationUniversity Secretary2008
Melissa Maxcy WadeCampus LifeBarkley Forum2007
Frank AlexanderSchool of LawLaw2006
Richard LevinsonSchool of Public HealthBehavioral Sciences and Health Education2005
Thomas BurnsEmory CollegeHistory2004
Eleanor MainEmory CollegePolitical Science2003
Irwin HyattEmory CollegeHistory2002
Marshall DukeEmory CollegePsychology2001
Jacqueline IrvineEmory CollegeEducational Studies2000
Harvey E. KlehrEmory CollegePolitical Science1999
Robert L. DeHaanEmory CollegeEducational Studies1998
Billy E. FryeAdministrationChancellor1997
John R. Boring IIISchool of Public HealthEpidemiology1996
George W. BrumleySchool of MedicinePediatrics1995
Jonas A. ShulmanSchool of MedicineInfectious Diseases1994
Donna J. BroganSchool of Public HealthBiostatistics and Bioinformatics1993
Delores P. AldridgeEmory CollegeAfrican American Studies1992
Eugene J. GangarosaSchool of MedicinePublic Health1991
William H. MurdyOxford CollegeDean1990
William MallardSchool of TheologyReligion1989
James A. BainSchool of MedicinePharmacology1988
J. Russell MajorEmory CollegeHistory1986
John M. PalmsEmory CollegePhysics1985
Herbert R. KarpSchool of MedicineNeurology1984
John H. StoneSchool of MedicineEmergency Medicine1983
Dora H. SkypekEmory CollegeEducational Studies1982
Jack S. BoozerEmory CollegeReligion1981
Marella WalkerLibrariesResearch1980
Alfred E. WilhelmiSchool of MedicineBiochemistry1979
Robert H. RohrerEmory CollegePhysics1978
Charles T. LesterEmory CollegeChemistry1977
Arthur P. RichardsonSchool of MedicinePharmacology1976
Judson C. Ward Jr.AdministrationExecutive Vice President1975
R.A. Day Jr.Emory CollegeChemistry1974
William H. AgnorSchool of LawLaw1973
Robert B. PlattEmory CollegeBiology1972
George P. CuttinoEmory CollegeHistory1971
Gregor SebbaEmory CollegePhilosophy1970
James Harvey YoungEmory CollegeHistory1969
Floyd C. WatkinsEmory CollegeEnglish1968
William H. JonesEmory CollegeChemistry1967
Evangeline T. PapageorgeSchool of MedicineChemistry1966
E.H. ReceEmory CollegeReligion1965
Edwin T. MartinEmory CollegeEnglish1964
William A. StrozierEmory CollegeRomance Languages1963
Woolford B. BakerEmory CollegeBiology1962