| Year | Title | Yale Affiliation | Description | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Right Honorable Dame Jacinda Ardern | Former Prime Minister of New Zealand | Service/Activism | |
| 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 |