Honors

Francis S. Collins (Chemistry ’70) received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award a United States president can bestow. Under his directorship of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health, the Human Genome Project mapped and sequenced the full human genome and greatly expanded understanding of human DNA.

David T. Gies, Commonwealth Professor of Spanish, received the Order of Isabella the Catholic. One of Spain’s highest accolades, the Order recognizes “extraordinary civil actions” that benefit Spain and promote friendly relations between Spain and the international community.

Assistant Professor of Astronomy Kelsey Johnson was named a Packard Fellow, a distinction awarded to 20 top young researchers nationwide from a variety of scientific disciplines.

John D. Lyons, chair of the Department of French Language and Literature and Commonwealth Professor of French, received France’s highest award, the Legion of Honor, presented to “illustrious individuals” of “outstanding achievement” in service to France.

Guy Sterling (Speech, Drama ’70), New Jersey Star-Ledger veteran reporter, received the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ Deems Taylor Award. His stories on John Coltrane, Judy Garland and country music in New Jersey earned him the national honor.

The French Academy awarded its Gran Prix Moron to Astronomy Professor Trinh Thuan for The Ways of Light: Physics and Metaphysics of Light and Darkness (in French, Editions Fayard). Roughly equivalent to the U.S. Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award, this award recognizes a philosophical work involving a new ethic or aesthetics.

Philip Zelikow, White Burkett Miller Professor of History, was named to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s six-member Global Development Program Advisory Panel. The panel, formed to provide outside expert perspectives to increase the impact of the foundation’s work, will advise on strategies and evaluate results.