Distinguished Alumni
Our graduates' careers demonstrate the endless possibilities of a degree in the liberal arts and sciences. To recognize the most significant among our alumni's many achievements, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences honors a few select graduates each year with the Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. It is the highest honor bestowed upon alumni of the College.
The award recognizes our graduates' outstanding contributions to KU, their professions or their communities in a wide range of disciplines, including the arts, public service, business, academia and more.
2017-2018
Delano Lewis
Diplomat, executive
The list of careers Delano Lewis has held is lengthy and diverse. After graduating from KU in 1960 with majors in political science and history and a law degree soon after, he embarked on a career including roles with the Justice Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Peace Corps in Nigeria and Uganda, as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, CEO of NPR and more than 20 years in telecommunications with C & P Telco in D.C., culminating as president of Bell Atlantic/DC, which is now Verizon.
Alongside his professional career, Lewis has made contributions as a public servant and philanthropist in the Washington, D.C. community, and on a federal level. Recently, he’s focused his energy on sharing his experiences with others, compiling his life lessons in his memoir, “It All Begins with Self: How to Discover Your Passion, Connect with People, and Succeed in Life.”
2015-2016
Anne Levinson
Judge, civic leader
1980
Brad Garlinghouse
Tech executive
1994
Dan Rooney
Philanthropist
1996
2014-15
Edgar Heap of Birds
Multidisciplinary artist
1976
Sharon Lee
Physician
1974
William Fisher
Geology professor
1958, 1961
2012-13
B. Lynn Pascoe
Diplomat
1964
Charles Boyd
Retired four-star general of the U.S. Air Force
1975, 1976
Chris Martin
Visual effects
2003
John Gurche
Paleo-artist
1974, 1979
Rosemarie Truglio
Sesame Workshop executive
1986, 1990
2011-12
Juan Manuel Santos
President of the Republic of Colombia
1973
Marla Prather
Art Curator
1978, 1981
Marla Spivak
Entomology researcher
1989
Robert Kipp
Civic Leader
1956
2010-11
Cynthia Carroll
Business executive
1982
Mark Amin
Film producer
1972
Vernon L. Smith
Economist
1954
Wes Jackson
Environmentalist
1960
2009-10
Ann Hamilton
Visual artist
1979
George William James
Baseball statistician
1973, 1975
Kathleen Sebelius
Former governor of Kansas
1980
Steve Mills
Television producer
1951
2008-09
Deanell Reece Tacha
Federal judge
1968
Jacqueline Z. Davis
Performing arts executive
1973
Robert Hill
Biochemistry researcher
Sheila Bair
Economist
1975
2007-08
George Sheldon
Surgeon
1957, 1961
James Gunn
Science fiction author
1947, 1951
Mary Dawson
Paleontologist
1957
Thomas Rudkin
PowerPoint software engineer
1973
2006-07
B.H. "Pete" Fairchild
Poet
Randy Scott
Biotechnology inventor
1984
Rosemary O'Leary
Public management and policy researcher
1978, 1982
Steven Hawley
Astronaut
1973
Thomas G. Burish
Provost
1975, 1976
2005-06
Charley Oswald
Businessman
1951
David M. Hillis
Molecular systematics researcher
1983, 1984,1985
Sally Hoglund
Public service advocate
1956
Sara Paretsky
Crime fiction author
1967
2004-05
Elizabeth Broun
Art museum director
1968, 1969, 1976
Gary Sick
Middle East affairs analyst
1957
Irving Johnson (1925-2014)
Pharmaceutical researcher
1953
Mike Robe
Television writer-director-producer
1966, 1968
2003-04
Douglas D. Heckathorn
Sociology researcher
1969, 1972, 1974
Edward F. Reilly Jr.
Chairman of the United States Parole Commission
1961
Paul S. Keim
Infectious disease researcher
1981
Terrence D. Jones
Performing arts executive
1970, 1972
2002-03
Jill Docking
Financial executive
1978, 1984
Paul R. Ehrlich
Biology researcher
1955, 1957
2001-02
Jill Quadagno
Gerontology scholarM
1975, 1976
2000-01
Fred N. Six
Kansas Supreme Court Justice
1951, 1956
1999-2000
James E. Hesser
Astronomy researcher
1963
1998-99
Martha Peterson
Higher education administrator
1937
1997-98
Arthur F. McClure II
Historian
1966
1996-97
Clyde W. Toland
Attorney
1969, 1975
Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker
Senator
1954