Weidenbaum Center Award for Excellence

To honor Professor Murray Weidenbaum’s life-long accomplishments and achievements, the Weidenbaum Center Award for Excellence is presented to up to three individuals each year – a student or Washington University alumnus, a Washington University faculty member, and a civic-minded individual – that exhibit the character, dedication, and caliber of work associated throughout the years with Professor Weidenbaum. The award is presented each year at a special ceremony as part of the Center’s annual reception. Richard Mahoney provided the vision and funding to make the award a reality.

The award is given in the form of a medal which features a replica of the bas-relief sculpture image (on one side), done by internationally recognized artist and Washington University alumnus Don Wiegand and commissioned by Center Senior Distinguished Executive in Residence Richard Mahoney, and the Washington University insignia on the other (see above). 

The Center is honored to be a part of this tradition which enables future generations to continue Professor Weidenbaum’s exemplary model of work and service.

How to Nominate Someone

Nominations for this award are welcome at any time of the year. The nomination packet should include:

  • A nomination letter detailing the rationale for the nomination
  • The nominee’s curriculum vitae

A committee of faculty, students, and community representatives will review nominations and choose winners. Nominations and the considerations of the Advisory Committee will be confidential.

Submit nominations in PDF format to Andrew Reeves, Director of the Weidenbaum Center and Professor of Political Science. 

Self-nominations are welcome.

To send a nomination to the Weidenbaum Center, please email materials to weidenbaumcenter@wustl.edu 

 

Past Recipients

2023 

Dr. James Schiele, Emeritus Chairman of the Weidenbaum Center Eliot Society Committee 

Steven S. Smith, Former Director of the Weidenbaum Center, Kate M. Gregg Distinguished Professor of Social Science, and Professor of Political Science. 

 

2022 

Olivier Blanchard, C. Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Robert M. Solow Professor of Economics emeritus at MIT, and Former Economic Counselor and Director of the Research Department at the International Monetary Fund 

 

2019

Mark S. Wrighton, 14th Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis

Gangyi Sun, B.A. in Economics, 2019

 

2018   

Ambassador George Herbert Walker III

Ray Arvidson, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University

Kayla Reed, Washington University Sociology and African-American Studies Major

 

 

 

 

 

2017  

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum, former Chief Economist of the Council of Economic Advisers

William Danforth, Chancellor Emeritus, Washington University in St. Louis

Bisma Mufti, Washington University Political Science Major

Kenneth Sng, Washington University Economics and Mathematics Major

 

2016  

Michael McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation; Director & Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute at Stanford University; Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution

Edward Lawlor, Dean, Brown School of Social Work; William E. Gordon Distinguished Professor at Washington University in St. Louis

 

2015  

Laurence Meyer, Senior Managing Director and Co-Founder of the Monetary Insights Team of Macroeconomic Advisers; former Governor of the Federal Reserve Board; and former Professor and Chairman of the Economics Department at Washington University

Nathan Moore and Elisabeth Askin, Washington University School of Medicine alums

 

2014  

James Bullard, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

William Peck, Director, Center for Health Policy; Alan A. & Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor of Medicine; and Former Dean, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis