Established in 1983 by the Duke Alumni Board of Directors, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest award presented by the board. It is awarded to alumni who have distinguished themselves by the contributions they have made in their own fields or professions, in service to Duke University and to the betterment of humanity.

2024 Recipient: Elizabeth Franke Stevens ’81, P’14

This award recognizes alumni volunteers who serve in Duke leadership roles and have devoted themselves to extraordinary, long-term efforts that help Duke further its mission.

2024 Recipients:

• Charlie Berardesco ’80
• Mychal Harrison ’01
• Nick Leonardy ’81, M.D. ’85, P ’08
• Danielle M. Squires ’02
• Christy Susman ’88

Inaugurated in 2014, the award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through service to their community, their country or to society at large. Awards are given in three categories: Young Alumni, Local Community, and Global Community.

2024 Recipients:

• John Armbrust B.S.E. ’04
• Lauren Heine M.S. ’94, Ph.D. ’97and Stacy Noel Glass M.B.A. ’99
• Andrew Hanna ’14
• Emily Wang M.D. ’03
• Brandon Williams ’06, M.Div. ’13

Presented for the first time in 2009, this award recognizes exceptional recent volunteer service by alumni and Duke Parents, to Duke and the alumni community. 

2024 Recipients:

Individual Awardees:

• David Bowsher J.D. ’99
• Elizabeth Caswell ’91, P’24, P’27
• Rebecca Feinglos ’11
• Rick Gieryn ’79, P’13
• Jim Goldfarb ’92
• Kyle Kreick ’08
• John Lin M.B.A.’99
• Catherine McDowell ’00
• Neelima Nadella ’01
• Valerie Rind ’83
• Theodore Segal ’77
• Donna Claycomb Sokol M.Div.’00
• Ron Temple ’90
• Steven Winkler M.H.A.’78

Group Awardees:

Group 1: Duke Class of ’73, 50th Reunion Co-Chairs

• James Akers ’73, P’00, P’02, P’06, P’08, P’09
• Robert Shields Bogan B.S.E.’73
• Jayne Mcguire Booker ’73 (awarded posthumously)
• Jane Clayton ’73, P’11
• Dara Lyn DeHaven ’73, A.M.’74, J.D.’80
• Artyn Haig Gardner ’73, P’98
• Max L. Gardner, Jr. ’73, P’98
• Gerald L. Hassell ’73, P’08
• Wendy Jay Hilburn ’73
• George Peter Lucaci ’73, P’16
• Celestea Gentry Sharp ’73
• Mark Stalnecker ’73, P’06
• Susan M. Stalnecker ’73, P’06
• Mary Wilson Stanley B.S.N.’73
• Robert King Steel ’73
• Lewis Frederick Sutherland ’73, P’03, P’06
• Michele Ruddy Vernon ’73, P’05, P’09
• Hope Morgan Ward ’73, M.Div.’78, P’01
• Laura Meyer Wellman ’73, P’11 

Group 2: Duke Nashville Black Alumni and Young Professionals Leadership

• Courtney Lorose Hunter ’10
• Sherry Ellerbe Gibbs M.B.A.’94 

Group 3: DukeNY 2023 Welcome to the City Party Co-Chairs

• Meghna Patel B.S.N.’14
• Lars Oscar Scofield ’92
• Kevin Isaiah Thompson ’09, M.M.S.’10 

Group 4: Duke Philadelphia Thanksgiving Food Drive Committee

• Allison Jill Brucker ’96
• Kate Golby Carp ’80, P’15, P’17
• Janice A. Gault ’87, M.D.’91, P’24
• Ian Blake Li B.S.E.’11
• Danielle Alexis Brown Graham ’04
• Anne H. Grauer ’73
• Sandra Marie Cavazos B.S.E.’97, P’24, P’26
• Shereen Arthur White ’06 

Group 5: Duke Boston Women's Forum Co-Chairs

• Caitlyn Clarke M.M.S.’1
• Shannon Malloy ’19
• Kelly Fuhrman Taylor ’03

Group 6: Duke First Changemakers

• Joseph Francis ’99
• Ana Homayoun ’01
• Hunter McGhee ’18
• Katie Taylor McKeown ’19
• Gerardo Parraga ’18, J.D.’21
• David Robertson ’15
• Sloan Talbot ’19
• Gabriele Wurmitzer Ph.D.’12
• Jen Yam ’14