|
2024 |
Dr. Vivek Murthy |
M.D. ’03, M.B.A. ’03 |
U.S. Surgeon General |
Service/Activism |
|
2023 |
Elizabeth Alexander |
1984 B.A., 2018 Litt.D. |
Poet, Educator, and Cultural Advocate |
Writing/Creative |
|
2022 |
Reshma Saujani |
2002 J.D. |
Advocate for Women and Girls |
Service/Activism |
|
2021 |
Robert Lopez |
1997 B.A. |
Songwriter |
Writing/Creative |
|
2020 |
Jean Bennett |
1976 B.S. |
Scientific Researcher and Gene Therapy Pioneer |
Academia |
|
2019 |
Chimamanda Adichie |
2008 M.A.; 2019 Litt.D. |
Novelist and Non-Fiction Writer |
Writing/Creative |
|
2018 |
Hillary Rodham Clinton |
1973 J.D.; 2009 LL.D. |
Former Secretary of State, Senator, and First Lady |
Politics |
|
2017 |
Theo Epstein |
YC 1995 |
Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations |
Athletics |
|
2016 |
Samantha Power |
YC 1992 |
Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations |
Politics |
|
2015 |
Joseph Biden |
|
47th Vice President of the United States |
Politics |
|
2014 |
John Kerry |
YC 1966; 2017 LL.D. |
U.S. Secretary of State |
Politics |
|
2013 |
Cory Booker |
1997 J.D. |
Mayor of Newark, New Jersey |
Politics |
|
2012 |
Barbara Walters |
|
Television Journalist |
Journalism |
|
2011 |
Tom Hanks |
|
Actor |
Film/Drama/TV |
|
2010 |
William Jefferson Clinton |
1973 J.D. |
42nd President of the United States |
Politics |
|
2009 |
Christopher Buckley |
YC 1975 |
Author |
Writing/Creative |
|
2008 |
Tony Blair |
|
Former Prime Minister (United Kingdom) |
Politics |
|
2007 |
Fareed Zakaria |
YC 1986; 2006 M.A.H. |
Television Journalist |
Journalism |
|
2006 |
Anderson Cooper |
YC 1989 |
Television Journalist |
Journalism |
|
2005 |
Eleanor Holmes Norton |
1963 M.A.; 1964 LL.B. |
Congresswoman (D-DC) |
Politics |
|
2004 |
Ken Burns |
|
Filmmaker |
Film/Drama/TV |
|
2003 |
Tom Friedman |
|
Journalist; Author |
Journalism |
|
2002 |
George Pataki |
YC 1967 |
Governor of New York |
Politics |
|
2001 |
Hillary Rodham Clinton |
1973 J.D.; 2009 LL.D. |
U.S. Senator (D-NY) |
Politics |
|
2000 |
Robert Woodward |
YC 1965 |
Journalist |
Journalism |
|
1999 |
David Gergen |
YC 1963; 1996 M.A.H. |
Political Advisor; Journalist |
Journalism |
|
1998 |
Tom Brokaw |
|
Journalist |
Journalism |
|
1997 |
David McCullough |
YC 1955; 1998 Litt.D. |
Historian |
Academia |
|
1996 |
Henry Winkler |
1970 M.F.A. |
Actor; Director; Producer |
Film/Drama/TV |
|
1995 |
Kurt Schmoke |
YC 1971 |
Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland |
Politics |
|
1994 |
Sargent Shriver |
YC 1938; 1941 LL.B. |
Founder, Peace Corps; President, Special Olympics |
Service/Activism |
|
1993 |
Jodie Foster |
YC 1984; 1987 D.F.A. |
Actress; Director |
Film/Drama/TV |
|
1992 |
Calvin Trillin |
YC 1957; 1988 M.A.H. |
Author; Humorist |
Writing/Creative |
|
1991 |
Garry Trudeau |
YC 1970; 1973 M.F.A.; 1976 L.H.D. |
Cartoonist |
Writing/Creative |
|
1990 |
Marian Wright Edelman |
1963 LL.B.; 1971 M.A.H. |
Founder, Children's Defense Fund |
Service/Activism |
|
1989 |
Thomas Wolfe |
1957 Ph.D. |
Author |
Writing/Creative |
|
1988 |
Stephen Jay Gould |
|
Zoologist |
Academia |
|
1987 |
Strobe Talbott |
YC 1968 |
News Columnist |
Journalism |
|
1986 |
Andrew Young |
|
Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia; United Nations Ambassador |
Politics |
|
1985 |
Paul Tsongas |
1959 LL.B. |
U.S. Senator (D-MA) |
Politics |
|
1984 |
Richard Cavett |
YC 1958 |
Television Personality |
Film/Drama/TV |
|
1983 |
Betty Friedan |
|
Author; Founder, NOW |
Service/Activism |
|
1982 |
John Glenn |
|
U.S. Senator (D-OH) |
Politics |
|
1981 |
Carl Sagan |
|
Astronomer; Author |
Academia |
|
1980 |
William Bradley |
|
U.S. Senator (D-NJ) |
Politics |
|
1979 |
John Kenneth Galbraith |
|
Economist; Author |
Academia |