The IU School of Liberal Arts proudly honors graduates who exemplify the ideals of a liberal arts education, and in doing so, have made meaningful impact on their industries, their communities, their alma mater, and others' lives around the world.
We Celebrate our Shining Stars
Each year, the IU School of Liberal Arts Alumni Association recognizes up to three extraordinarily inspiring individuals for achievements in three different categories: the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Career Achievement Award, and the Honorary Alumnus Award.
The annual Liberal Arts Alumni Awards are recognized at the IU Indianapolis Alumni Leaders Dinner. Not only are the School's Alumni Awards recognized during the event, but also the Maynard K. Hine Award winners are recognized. For more information, go to Maynard K. Hine Award.
Liberal Arts Alumni Award honorees are nominated by IU School of Liberal Arts alumni, faculty, staff, and friends; and they are selected by an awards committee of the IU School of Liberal Arts Alumni Board.
By honoring our alumni, we recognize and celebrate how liberal arts is represented in the cultural interests, talents, career paths, and achievements in all sectors of society.
The application/nomination process is simple and open to all. We encourage you to nominate someone you know for this honor.
Liberal Arts Alumni Awards
Distinguished Alumni Award
Our highest honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizes alumni of the school who have distinguished themselves professionally and/or through extraordinary service to the school, campus, and/or Indiana University. All School of Liberal Arts graduates are eligible for this award.
We’ve listed the recipients’ IU degrees. Their School of Liberal Arts degrees are in italics.
2024
Shehzad H. Qazi
B.A., International and Global Studies
M.A., International Relations and Affairs
2023
Etta Ward
AA Arts and Humanities
BA English
MA Philanthropic Studies
2022
Mautrice Meriweather
BA English
MA Applied Communications
2021
Erin Kelley
MA History
2020
Steve Kern
BA Philosophy
BS in Business, Management and Administration
2019
Dr. Paul Siddens
BA Speech and Theatre
2018
Adam Hayden
BA Philosophy, MA Philosophy
2017
David Driscoll
BA Economics
2016
Ray Boomhower
BA Journalism/Political Science, MA History
2015
Janice Klein
BA Sociology, MSW Social Service
2014
Sheila Gilbert
BA Sociology, Master of Public Affairs
2013
Gregory Mobley
BA History
2011
Christine Dowdeswell
BA Political Science
2010
Peter Carmichael
BA History
2005
Tonja L. Eagan
BA Sociology, Master of Public Affairs
2003
M. Teresa Baer
BA History, MA History
2002
Samuel Graves III
BA Political Science
2001
Byron Buhner
BA Speech, MS Adult Education/Education
2000
Stephen Akard
BA Economics/French, JD/MBA
1999
Kerry Manders
BA Sociology
1998
John Wild
BA Political Science, Specialized Study/Master of Public Affairs
1985
M. William Lutholtz
BA Political Science
1984
Fred Biesecker
BA Political Science, doctoral degree
1983
Sandra Borns
BA History, MS Secondary Education/Education
1982
Mary Parido
BA German, MS Secondary Education/Education
1981
Anne Wilcox
JD
1980
Judith LaFourest
BA English, MAT English
Career Achievement Award
This award is given to alumni for outstanding accomplishments in their professions or in service to the school, campus, and/or Indiana University. Graduates who completed their first School of Liberal Arts degree in the last 5 to 15 years are eligible for this award.
We’ve listed the recipients’ IU degrees. Their School of Liberal Arts degrees are in italics.
2024
Belinda M. Drake
B.A., Political Science
2023
Tory Schendel-Vyvoda
BA German and Individualized Major (Art History & Museum Studies)
MA Museum Studies
2022
Ryan I. Logan
BA Anthropology
MA Applied Anthropology
MPH Public Health
Ph.D. Applied (Medical) Anthropology
2021
Leon Bates
BA Africana Studies and History
2019
Marc A. McAleavey
BA Philosophy, MSW Social Work
2018
Sharee Myricks
BA Sociology
2017
Kirby Purciful
BA Economics, MA Economics
2016
- Sarah Ancel
BA Political Science/Economics, MA Economics - Lauren Guidotti
BA Communications Studies
2015
Todd Sears
BS Finance, MA Economics
2014
- Charity Counts
MA Museum Studies - Brian Denton
BA German/Political Science/Economics, BS Mathematics
2013
Olivia Roney
BA Communication Studies
Honorary Alumnus Award
This award is presented to non-alumni supporters of the school to recognize their outstanding contributions of time, leadership, service, philanthropy, and their efforts to bring greater recognition to liberal arts and/or the school.
2021
Vicki Bohlsen
2020
Rhonda Fox Waltz
Previous
- Stefan S. Davis
- James East (deceased)
- Debi Eller
- Gail M. Plater
Aristea Vareldzis-Pappas (deceased) - Gretchen Wolfram
Alumni Leadership Award
In 2023, the School of Liberal Arts Alumni Association gave a special Alumni Leadership Award to David Girton (BA Econcomics) to recognize David's significant and extraordinary service and leadership within our local community.
2023
David Girton
BA Economics
Nominate a Deserving Liberal Arts Alumni Today!
Please complete the nomination form to recommend a Liberal Arts alumna or alumnus for an alumni award. The nomination process is simple and open to all. We encourage you to nominate someone you know for these honors. Only completed nominations submitted via the form below and received by the deadline will be considered.
Nominations for the 2025 IU School of Liberal Arts Alumni Awards will be accepted through May 30, 2025. Nominations submitted after May 30, 2025 will be considered for the 2026 cycle.
Ideal candidates must:
- Be a graduate of the IU School of Liberal Arts
- Have achieved significant recognition or accomplishment in their chosen field (business, non-profit, the arts, academia, military/government, etc.) professionally and/or through extraordinary service to the IU School of Liberal Arts, campus, or Indiana University
- Be able to accept the award in person and participate in the annual Alumni Leaders Dinner where the Maynard K. Hine Awards are also presented.
- A completed online nomination form, which includes providing basic information on the nominator and nominee
- Provide at least one Recommendation Letter. (Required)
- It is strongly suggested to attach the nominee's current resume/CV/Professional summary or a hyperlink to their LinkedIn profile.
Eligible nominations are reviewed by the IU School of Liberal Arts Alumni Board's Alumni Awards Committee. Award selections are based on demonstrated distinctions and unique professional achievements in the alumni's chosen field of profession, such as:
- Activities (supported by references) that enhanced, improved, and developed one's profession
- Well-developed application and nomination letter
- Overall professional achievements
- Provided service above and beyond the expected level to the community, the IU School of Liberal Arts, campus, and/or Indiana University.
- Strong reference(s) included with nomination.
Nominees not selected will be reconsidered for one more year.
Upon selection, award recipients will be notified by the IU School of Liberal Arts Alumni Association. In addition, the nominator(s) and the honoree's current department chair(s) or program director(s) will be notified. Recipient names will be made public after the awards are presented to the honorees.
Questions?
Contact Tricia O'Neil at peoneil@iu.edu or 317-278-1074.