The Great Immigrants Award is an annual initiative by the Carnegie Corporation of New York to honor naturalized citizens of the United States who have made significant contributions to American society, democracy, and culture. Established in 2006, the award celebrates the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant and philanthropist who founded the Carnegie Corporation. The award is announced each year on the Fourth of July.
Background The Great Immigrants Award was created to showcase the positive impact immigrants have on the United States across various fields such as business, the arts, education, and philanthropy.
Criteria and selection process Honorees of the Great Immigrants Award are naturalized citizens of the United States who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and contributions in their respective fields. The selection process involves a comprehensive review of candidates' accomplishments, their impact on American society, and their commitment to the ideals of democracy and cultural diversity. The award has recognized individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including business leaders, educators, artists, scientists, and public servants.
List of honorees +2025NameProfessionCountry of birthTope AwotonaFounder and CEO, CalendlyNigeriaMoungi BawendiProfessor of Chemistry, MITFranceHelen M. BlauDirector, Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, and Professor, Stanford UniversityEnglandRoger CohenJournalist and Paris Bureau Chief, The New York TimesEnglandAkiko IwasakiProfessor of Immunobiology, Dermatology, and Epidemiology, Yale School of MedicineJapanMaz JobraniComedian, Actor, and AuthorIranSimon H. JohnsonProfessor of Entrepreneurship, MIT Sloan School of ManagementEnglandMichele KangBusinesswoman, Sports Team Owner, and PhilanthropistSouth KoreaShahid KhanPresident and CEO, Flex-N-GatePakistanManjusha P. KulkarniExecutive Director, AAPI Equity AllianceIndiaMaría Teresa KumarPresident and CEO, Voto LatinoColombiaTania LeónComposer, Conductor, and EducatorCubaSandra Leisa LindsayVice President, Public Health Advocacy, Northwell HealthJamaicaLuciano MarraffiniProfessor, The Rockefeller University, and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteArgentinaPriyamvada NatarajanProfessor of Astronomy and Physics, Yale UniversityIndiaKareem RahmaComedian, Artist, and MusicianEgyptRaul RuizU.S. Congressman, California, District 25MexicoManoochehr SadeghiGrand Master Musician and EducatorIranYuanyuan TanFormer Prima Ballerina, San Francisco BalletChinaAvi WigdersonProfessor of Mathematics, Institute for Advanced StudyIsrael +2024NameProfessionCountry of birthLeila AhmedProfessor, Harvard Divinity School, and AuthorEgyptMohammed AmerComedian and ActorKuwaitAbhijit BanerjeeProfessor of Economics, MIT, and Nobel Prize LaureateIndiaLeon BotsteinPresident, Bard College, Conductor, and ScholarSwitzerlandMariano-Florentino (Tino) CuéllarPresident, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former California Supreme Court JusticeMexicoEsther DufloProfessor of Economics, MIT, and Nobel Prize LaureateFranceSonia GardnerHedge Fund Manager and Cofounder, Avenue Capital GroupMoroccoViviana GradinaruProfessor of Neuroscience and Biological Engineering, CaltechRomaniaAbbas (Bas) HamadGrammy-Nominated RapperFranceEliu Misael (Michael) HinojosaChief Impact Officer, engage2learn, and Former Superintendent, Dallas ISDMexicoJensen HuangCofounder, President, and CEO, NVIDIATaiwanImmaculée IlibagizaAuthor and Motivational SpeakerRwandaSir Jonathan (Jony) IveArtist, Designer, and Technology ExecutiveEnglandAshish Kumar JhaDean, School of Public Health, Brown UniversityIndiaYann LeCunChief AI Scientist for Facebook AI Research (FAIR)FranceJim LeePresident, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer, DC ComicsSouth KoreaHoma NaficyLibrarian and Immigrant AdvocateFranceRaj PanjabiGlobal Healthcare Leader, Entrepreneur, and Former White House OfficialLiberiaEboo PatelFounder and President, Interfaith AmericaIndiaLorgia García PeñaProfessor of Latinx Studies, Princeton UniversityDominican RepublicMaria RessaInvestigative Reporter and Nobel Prize LaureatePhilippinesPremal ShahSocial Entrepreneur and Cofounder, KivaIndiaOcean VuongPoet, Novelist, and EssayistVietnamSteven YeunEmmy-Winning and Academy Award–Nominated ActorSouth Korea +2023NameProfessionCountry of birthWesaam Al-BadryPhotographer, Investigative Journalist, and Interdisciplinary ArtistIraqAna Lucia AraujoProfessor of History, Howard UniversityBrazilKyriacos A. AthanasiouProfessor of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, IrvineCyprusAjay BangaPresident, World Bank, and Former CEO, MastercardIndiaJean-Claude BrizardPresident and CEO, Digital PromiseHaitiBetty Kwan ChinnFounder, Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless FoundationChinaGhida DagherCEO and President, New American LeadersSierra LeoneDaniel DiermeierChancellor, Vanderbilt UniversityGermanyMiguel "Mike" B. FernandezChairman and CEO, MBF Healthcare PartnersCubaMaria FreireGlobal Health Leader and BiophysicistPeruNina GarciaEditor in Chief, ElleColombiaTimnit GebruFounder and Executive Director, Distributed AI Research InstituteEthiopiaKaren GonzálezFaith Leader, Writer, Speaker, and Immigrant AdvocateGuatemalaAzira G. HillCofounder, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development ProgramCubaRoald HoffmannProfessor Emeritus of Chemistry, Cornell University, and Nobel LaureatePolandGuido ImbensProfessor of Economics, Stanford University, and Nobel LaureateNetherlandsAngélique KidjoGrammy Award–Winning Singer and UNICEF Goodwill AmbassadorBeninBernard LagatChampion Runner and Five-Time OlympianKenyaMin Jin LeeAuthor and National Book Award FinalistSouth KoreaTed LieuU.S. Congressman, California, District 36TaiwanKaren LozanoProfessor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyMexicoDaniel LubetzkyFounder, KIND Snacks and Starts With UsMexicoJ. Patrice MarandelFormer Chief Curator of European Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)FranceStephen MichaelBrigadier General, U.S. Army (ret.), and Senior Executive, UBSGuyanaAlanis MorissetteGrammy Award–Winning Singer-Songwriter, Thought Leader, Wholeness AdvocateCanadaNgozi Okonjo-IwealaDirector-General, World Trade OrganizationNigeriaPedro PascalActor and Time 100 HonoreeChileSusan PolgarChess Grandmaster and Triple-Crown World ChampionHungaryKe Huy QuanAcademy Award–Winning ActorVietnamHelen QuinnProfessor Emerita of Physics, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford UniversityAustraliaJulissa ReynosoU.S. Ambassador to Spain and AndorraDominican RepublicOscar A. Solis10th Bishop, Diocese of Salt Lake CityPhilippinesAli SoufanChairman and CEO, The Soufan Group, and Former FBI Special AgentLebanonInge G. ThulinFormer Chairman, President, and CEO, 3M CompanySwedenPonsi TrivisvavetCEO and Director, InariThailand +2022NameProfessionCountry of birthHakki AkdenizOwner, Champion Pizza, and Advocate for the HomelessTurkeyMichael AmiridisPresident, University of South CarolinaGreeceBertine BahigeWyoming National Distinguished Principal, 2021Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)Maria Elena BottazziProfessor and Associate Dean, Baylor College of MedicineItalyJorge CaveroDoctor and Professor, University of Illinois College of MedicineBoliviaIbrahim CisséProfessor of Physics, MIT, and MacArthur FellowNigerHerman CornejoPrincipal, American Ballet Theatre, and UN Messenger of PeaceArgentinaBita DaryabariPhilanthropist, Entrepreneur, and Computer ScientistIranJulie DelpyAward-Winning Actress, Director, and ScreenwriterFranceFabienne DoucetEducational Equity Advocate and Professor, New York UniversitySpainJill EllisSoccer Coach and President, San Diego Wave Fútbol ClubEnglandDaniel FinnPastor and Chaplain and Cofounder, Irish Pastoral Centre, BostonIrelandLorena GarciaChef and Founder, Chica RestaurantsVenezuelaJesus GarzaMayor, Arcola, IllinoisMexicoAquilino GonellU.S. Capitol Police Officer and Congressional Gold Medal RecipientDominican RepublicSteffi GrafTennis Champion, Olympian, and Grand Slam WinnerGermanySiegfried HeckerNuclear Scientist and Director Emeritus, Los Alamos National LaboratoryPolandNicole Hernandez HammerEnvironmental Scientist and Climate Justice and Labor Organizer, SEIUGuatemalaLina HidalgoJudge and Chief Executive, Harris County, TexasColombiaJorge LabargaJustice, Florida Supreme CourtCubaPadma LakshmiHost and Executive Producer, Top Chef and Taste the NationIndiaMJ LeeWhite House Correspondent, CNNSouth KoreaPolina LishkoProfessor, University of California, Berkeley, and MacArthur FellowUkraineMalinda LoNovelist and National Book Award WinnerChinaSyukuro ManabeProfessor, Princeton University, and Nobel LaureateJapanKaren NakamuraProfessor of Anthropology, University of California, BerkeleyIndonesiaArrey ObensonPresident and CEO, International Institute of St. LouisCameroonToyin Ojih OdutolaVisual ArtistNigeriaArdem PatapoutianProfessor, Scripps Research Institute, and Nobel LaureateLebanonKarl RacineAttorney General, District of ColumbiaHaitiPunit RenjenGlobal CEO, DeloitteIndiaTashitaa TufaaOwner, CEO, and President, Metropolitan Transportation NetworkEthiopiaNeil YoungMusician, Grammy Winner, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame InducteeCanadaKaren ZacaríasAward-Winning Playwright and Founder, Young Playwrights' TheaterMexico +2021NameProfessionCountry of birthGisèle Ben-DorConductor Emerita, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of BostonUruguayAlbert BourlaChairman and CEO, PfizerGreecePeter CareyNovelist and Professor, Hunter CollegeAustraliaVija CelminsVisual ArtistLatviaJun ChoSupply Specialist, Delaware National GuardSouth KoreaMillicent ComrieOB-GYN and Director, Brooklyn Heights Women's Health Center, Maimonides Medical CenterJamaicaCarlos del RioPublic Health Advocate and Professor of Medicine, Emory UniversityMexicoGisele Barreto FettermanFounder, Free Store 15104, For Good PGH, and 412 Food RescueBrazilWayne A. I. FrederickPresident and Professor of Surgery, Howard UniversityTrinidad and TobagoGita GopinathChief Economist, International Monetary FundIndiaShireen HunterDiplomat, International Relations Scholar, and Honorary Fellow, Alwaleed Center, Georgetown UniversityIranAnisa IbrahimPhysician, Pediatrics Clinic, Harborview Medical CenterSomaliaKarine Jean-PierreWhite House Principal Deputy Press SecretaryMartiniqueIlya KaminskyPoet and Professor, Georgia Institute of TechnologyUkraineMin KaoCofounder and Executive Chairman, Garmin InternationalTaiwanKatalin KarikóScientist and Senior Vice President, BioNTechHungaryYoung KimU.S. Congresswoman, California, District 39South KoreaOlga KorbutOlympic Medal–Winning GymnastBelarusRuth LehmannProfessor of Biology, MITGermanyCarlos LozadaNonfiction Book Critic, The Washington PostPeruKamlesh LullaNASA Scientist (Fmr. Chief Scientist for Earth Observations, Space Shuttle/ISS), Senior Advisor for University Research and Technology Collaboration at Johnson Space Center, NASAIndiaMichael MinaChef and Founder, MINA GroupEgyptHelen MirrenActressEnglandHerro MustafaU.S. Ambassador to BulgariaIraqJohn OliverComedian and CommentatorEnglandJames PeeblesProfessor Emeritus of Physics, Princeton UniversityCanadaVincenzo PiscopoPresident and CEO, United Spinal AssociationVenezuelaIvan PoupyrevDirector of Engineering and Technical Projects Lead, GoogleRussiaJorge PulleiroIdaho Teacher of the Year and U.S. Army VeteranArgentinaPedro A. SanchezProfessor of Tropical Soils, University of FloridaCubaNsé UfotChief Executive Officer, New Georgia ProjectNigeriaLuis von AhnCofounder and CEO, DuolingoGuatemalaAli ZaidiDeputy White House National Climate AdvisorPakistanXiaowei ZhuangProfessor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard UniversityChina