The annual Spirit of Steinhardt Alumni Awards are built upon the five mission pillars of the school: social impact, values-driven leadership, innovation, striving for excellence, and global engagement.
We celebrate alumni whose impact and contributions are shining the brightest light possible on the vital ecosystems of our society. The three award categories are Ascending Champion, Disruptor of the Year, and Steinhardt Visionary.
2026 nominations are now closed.
NYU Alumni & Families Weekend 2026
Save the date: Alumni & Families Weekend 2026 will run from Thursday, October 22, through Sunday, October 26.
Past Recipients
2025
- Ascending Champion: L. Trenton Marsh (PhD ’17, Teaching and Learning)
- Disruptor of the Year: Katherine Dimitropoulou (MA ’00, Advanced Occupational Therapy; PhD ’06, Occupational Therapy)
- Steinhardt Visionary: Ellen Zisholtz (MA ’79, Training of Performing Arts Administration)
2024
- Ascending Champion: Micheal Quach (BS ’22, Teaching Physics, Grades 7–12)
- Disruptor of the Year: Adam D-F Stevens (MA ’18, Drama Therapy)
- Steinhardt Visionary: Susan Antolin (EdD ’22, Leadership and Innovation)