Graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences are frequently honored in their own communities and industries—and they’re often honored by Indiana University, too.
Each year, we celebrate the College’s most inspiring alumni and faculty at our annual alumni awards celebration. Join us on the IU Bloomington campus to meet with and learn from extraordinary individuals who are making their mark on our world.
Our alumni inspire us
Nominate your favorite alumni
The Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences alumni awards are given to alumni of the College whose exceptional achievements demonstrate the distinct principles derived from a liberal arts and sciences education. Nominate a deserving IU arts and sciences alum for this prestigious honor—the application process is simple and open to all.
- Use the online nomination form for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award. Nominations can be made from January 16 through February 24. Self-nominations are not accepted.
- Recipients of the College’s Distinguished Faculty Award and its philanthropic Old Crescent Award are chosen by the executive dean.
Contact Director of Alumni Relations Vanessa Cloe at vcloe@indiana.edu if you would like to learn more about any of these awards.
Candidates for all alumni awards:
- Must be a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington.
- Ideally must be able to accept the award in person and participate in the award recipient panel discussion at the College of Arts and Sciences Awards Dinner.
- For the Distinguished Alumni Award:
- Have achieved significant recognition or accomplishment in their chosen field (for example, business, academic, military/government, the arts), community service, or university service.
- For the Outstanding Young Alumni Award:
- Have achieved significant recognition or accomplishment through professional achievement, community service, or university service.
- Be forty years of age or younger.
Self-nominations are not accepted. Members of the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Board, current College faculty, and current College staff are not eligible for these awards. The College Alumni Board reserves the right to reassign nomination categories if deemed necessary.
Eligible nominations are screened, and awardees are selected by the College Alumni Board. Award selections are made in late June. Nominees not selected will be held over for reconsideration for two additional years. If necessary, rollover nominations must be modified to fit within current guidelines and award criteria.
2024 alumni award recipients
Gretchen L. Birbeck
Distinguished Alumni Award
B.A. ’90, Chemistry, Psychology
Gretchen L. Dike-Birbeck is the Rykenboer Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester.
Read more about Gretchen L. Dike-Birbeck
John and Wendy Kindig
Old Crescent Award
B.S. ’72, Biological Sciences (John), B.A. ’73, Chemistry (Wendy)
John and Wendy Kindig are retired medical doctors, with John having practiced cardiology and Wendy having practiced nephrology.
Read more about John and Wendy Kindig
Mark Leonard
Distinguished Alumni Award
B.S. ’77, Astrophysics, M.A. ’79, Geology
Mark Leonard is president of Leonard Exploration, which he founded in 2008 after retiring from a long career at Shell Oil.
Read more about Mark Leonard
Patrick A. Shoulders
Distinguished Alumni Award
B.A. ’75, English
Patrick A. Shoulders has practiced law in his hometown of Evansville, Ind., for 46 years.
Read more about Patrick A. Shoulders
Laysha Ward
Distinguished Alumni Award
B.A. ’91, Afro-American Studies, Journalism
Laysha Ward is an accomplished C-suite executive with nearly 33 years of leadership experience at Target. Her upcoming book, Lead Like You Mean It: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose From the C-Suite, will be released in February 2025.
Read more about Laysha Ward
Elyssa Campodonico-Barr
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
B.A. ’09, Political Science/Philosophy, Spanish
Elyssa Campodonico-Barr is a program director in the community development division at Lilly Endowment.
Read more about Elyssa Campodonico-BarrPrevious awardees
2023—Rick Fuson, Holly L. Hedrick, Shontrai D. Irving, Phil Ponce
2022—William C. Carter, Tracy Gardner, Betty Hahn, Pete Yonkman
2021—Gregory A. Ballard, Louise Bernard, William C. Carter
2020—Howard R. "Skip" Elliott, Jeff Richardson, Roslyn Walker
2019—Michael Anthony, Kenneth F. Buechler, Dyan Sublett
2018—Mary Czerwinski, Anthony DeCurtis, Emily Sano
2017—Matt Ferguson, Kumble R. Subbaswamy
2016—Bob Chapek, C. Diane Matt, Robyn Wiegman
2015—Gayle Cook, Jim Farnsworth, LTG Thomas Montgomery, Sue Naegle
2014—James Bullard, Michael D. Higgins, Naser al-Hujelan, Jerry Uelsmann
2012—Sarah Evans Barker, Jamie Hyneman, James McGee, Tara VanDerveer
2011—Don Fehr, Carolyn Reidy, Vice Admiral Adam Robinson Jr.
2010—Paul J. Caine, Angelo Pizzo
2009—Don R. Knauss
2008—Meg Cabot
2007—Will Shortz
2006—Lawrence H. Einhorn
2005—James T. Morris
2004—Claire L. Gaudiani
2003—Mansukh C. Wani
2002—Ernest R. Davidson
2001—Jack M. Gill
2000—James Grant
1999—Otis R. Bowen
1998—Stephen F. Cohen
1997—Recognition of endowed chairs, professorships, and fellows
1996—Edward Boehne, J. Alfred Broaddus Jr., Lyle Gramley
1995—Frank Popoff
1994—Irene W. Meister
1993—Charles Kimbrough
1992—W. William Weeks
1991—Robert Gumbiner
1990—Riccardo Giovanelli, Martha P. Haynes, Thomas W. Wathen
1989—James P. Comer
1988—Chester E. Davis, Michel duCille
1987—John D. Abel, Meredith P. Sparks
1986—Harvey Feigenbaum, John W. Walls
1985—S. Hugh Dillin, Milton “Josh” Fineberg, Pauline Jontz Lennon, William G. Mays, Robert R. Sturgeon
1984—Jack L. New, Richard S. Simons
1983—Charles D. Bussey, John Morton-Finney, James R. Polk, Wendell L. Roelofs, Martha E. Schaaf
1982—Thomas I. Atkins, Elizabeth E. Bridgwaters, Robert H. Menke
1981—William E. Brown, Ruth N. Halls
1980—Jane Bayer Butcher, David R. Frick, Edward G. High
1979—Marie Alice Edwards, Sandra L. Eisert, James B. Serrin Jr., Miriam M. Sturgeon
1978—Rebecca Bartlett, Wilma Kelley, Robert F. Magill
2019—Edward G. Carmines, Department of Political Science
2018—Catherine A. Pilachowski, Department of Astronomy
2017—George Pinney, Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance
2016—Brian Powell, Sociology
2015—Ken Mackie, Psychological and Brain Sciences
2014—Richard DiMarchi, Chemistry
2012—Darlene J. Sadlier, Spanish and Portuguese
2011—Ellen Ketterson, Biology
2010—Elinor Ostrom, Political Science
2009—Portia K. Maultsby, Folklore and Ethnomusicology
2008—Olaf Sporns, Psychological and Brain Sciences
2007—Jeffrey A. Wolin, Fine Arts
2006—Bernice Pescosolido, Sociology
2005—John M. Cameron, Physics
2004—Jeffrey D. Palmer, Biology
2003—Lisa M. Pratt, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (formerly Geological Sciences)
2002—John E. Bodnar, History
2001—Patrick Brantlinger, English
2000—Joseph E. Steinmetz, Psychology
1999—Milos V. Novotny, Chemistry
1998—Robert M. Nosofsky, Psychology
1997—Malcolm H. Chisholm, Chemistry
1996—William P. Ziemer, Mathematics
1995—Scott R. Sanders, English
1994—Ruth N. Halls, Recognition of Halls Chairs and Professorships
1993—Gary M. Hieftje, Chemistry
1992—Susan D. Gubar, English
1991—Stephen J. Stein, Religious Studies
1990—Charles S. Parmenter, Chemistry
1989—James C. Craig, Psychology
2023—Morgan Mohr
2022—Rashawn Ray
2021—Tiffany R. Benjamin, Asma Khalid
2020—Mina Starsiak Hawk
2019—Stephanie Walters Kim
2018—Jennifer Burnett-Zieman
2017—Rebecca Homkes
2016—Josh Stewart
2015—Marie Harf
2014—Arian Moayed, Marion Werkheiser
2012—Kathleen Plinske
2011—Erin Patrick
2010—Erika Wadler
2009—Benjamin R. Londergan, Leigh London Redman
2008—Michael J. Koryta
2007—Jessica Petelle
2006—Nathan J. Feltman
2005—Nicole F. Parker
2022—Thomas G. Olsen
2020—Lawrence M. Blatt
2019—William F. Carroll Jr., Dennis Peters
2018—Michael Arnolt, Lawrence H. Lee, George Martin, Ralph Walter
2017—Allen R. Siedle
2016—Meredith and Elsa McKinney
The Distinguished Teaching Award was given annually by the College of Arts and Sciences to one faculty member representing each of the three major academic areas in the College (Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural and Mathematical Sciences).
1988—Donald E. Hattin, W. Eugene Kleinbauer, Fred Witney
1987—Byrum E. Carter Jr., Karen K. Lee, Stuart L. Mufson
1986—Philip Burton, Alfred David, Catherine Olmer
1985—Alfred Diamant, Robert G. Gunderson, George Malacinski
1984—Larry J. Griffin, Dennis G. Peters, Mazelle Van Buskirk
1983—Robert Bareikis, John O’Donnell, Richard D. Yoakam
1982—Donald J. Gray, Rita C. Naremore, Charles J. Vitaliano
1981—Robert H. Ferrell, Ralph Holsinger, Walter A. Konetzka
1980—William R. Breneman, James B. Christoph, Alma Eikerman