The Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board has created a new category of awards that will each year recognize and honor the impact and achievements of the NYU Steinhardt Alumni Community. The awards are built upon the five mission pillars of the School - Social Impact, Values-Driven Leadership, Innovation, Striving for Excellence and Global Engagement - which combined, are the driving force behind the “The Spirit of Steinhardt.”
We are the School of Culture, Education and Human Development whose alumni are the Disrupters, the Visionaries and the Ascending Champions of our global community.
For a quick summary, check out our “Spirit of Steinhardt” FAQs.
Meet Our 2024 Recipients
Disruptor of the Year
Adam D-F. Stevens (MA ’18, Drama Therapy) has been named 2024’s Disruptor of the Year as part of the inaugural cohort of Spirit of Steinhardt alumni award winners.
Meet Adam D-F. StevensSteinhardt Visionary
Susan Antolin (EdD ’22, Leadership and Innovation) has been named 2024’s Steinhardt Visionary as part of the inaugural cohort of Spirit of Steinhardt alumni award winners.
Meet Susan AntolinAscending Champion
Micheal Quach (BS ’22, Teaching Physics, Grades 7–12) has been named 2024’s Ascending Champion as part of the inaugural cohort of Spirit of Steinhardt alumni award winners.
Meet Michael QuachAward Categories/Titles
“Disrupter of the Year”
The entrepreneur, the innovator, the graduate whose experience at the School has led them to instigate unexpected and groundbreaking change. Our alumni carry this unique code inherently because transformation and discovery are the backbone of every program and major at Steinhardt.
“Steinhardt Visionary”
The influencer, the visionary who is committed to building a better world and being a champion for the causes of social change and impact; the alum whose career trajectory is built in the halls of those organizations and entities dedicated to advancing society. Our alumni are values-driven leaders, whose work is informed by improving the human condition.
“Ascending Champion”
The ascending champion whose achievements are already noteworthy in a career trajectory in its earliest stages. The recent alum is an emerging leader whose future path will continue to reflect the fundamentals of the Steinhardt mission pillars. Our outstanding students who can’t wait to become alumni and bring their voices and talents to bear on whatever they have set their sights upon. An Ascending Champion is defined as someone who has graduated within the past ten years.
“What are the deadlines for submitting a nomination?”
The nominations deadline is July 26, 2024. Awardees and nominators will be notified in mid-August.
"Can I self-nominate?"
No self-nominations will be accepted.
"Are faculty and staff eligible for “The Spirit of Steinhardt” awards?"
Faculty and staff of NYU Steinhardt are not considered eligible for “The Spirit of Steinhardt” awards.
"How will I know if my nominee has been selected?"
A detailed timeline for the process and call for nominations and selection of awardees can be found online. Submitors will be notified when the process has been completed prior to the public announcement of award recipients.
"When and how will awards be presented?"
“The Spirit of Steinhardt” awards will be presented annually at the Alumni Luncheon during NYU Alumni and Families Weekend held in October.
"Can I submit more than one letter of recommendation?"
Only one letter of recommendation should be submitted per nomination.
"Can I submit a paper application?"
Nomination forms must be electronically submitted.
"Can I nominate more than one person?"
Nominators will only be allowed to submit one name for each category and will be asked to identify their candidate's orientation as being either in the area of Culture, Education or Human Development.
- Nominees must be alumni of NYU Steinhardt who have distinguished themselves through their professional and personal accomplishments in the categories designated.
- Nominees' accomplishments are recognized by their peers and/or professional organizations in some capacity.
- Nominees' achievements in any award category will also reflect in some capacity aspects of the five mission pillars of NYU Steinhardt: Social Impact, Values-Driven Leadership, Innovation, Striving for Excellence and Global Engagement.
- Considerations of equity and diversity will be paramount in selecting award recipients.
- Consideration will be given to equitable recipient distribution annually and in future years on an ongoing basis from among alumni of each of NYU Steinhardt’s eleven Departments.
- No self-nominations will be accepted.
- Faculty and staff of NYU Steinhardt are not considered eligible for “The Spirit of Steinhardt” awards. (There are multiple awards for each of these cohorts already awarded by NYU and the School.)
- Members of the Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board and Dean’s Advisory Council are not eligible for the awards.
- Nominees/candidates for the awards should be prepared to receive their awards in person at NYU Alumni and Families Weekend.
- Nominations will be sought from the entire Steinhardt Community via the following three means:
- A call to Steinhardt alumni worldwide via email
- Request for nominations from members of Steinhardt’s eleven Departments and Research Centers
- Recommendations from members of the Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board
- Deadlines for nominations will be set out in all communications.
- Nominators will be asked to complete a form submitting all relevant details for their nominee including category of award, accompanied by a letter of recommendation (up to 250 words) with year/degree information for nominees.
- Nominators will only be allowed to submit one name for each category and will be asked to identify their candidate's orientation as being either in the area of Culture, Education or Human Development.
- Forms will be electronically submitted, collected, collated and distributed to the Dean’s Advisory Board in a timely manner by the Office of Alumni Relations.
- Nominations without proper submission documents will not be considered.
- A sub-committee of the Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board, in conjunction with the Dean’s Office and the Office of Alumni Relations, will review all submissions. Final selection of the award recipients will be made by the Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board.
- “The Spirit of Steinhardt” awards will be presented annually at the Alumni Luncheon during NYU Alumni and Families Weekend.
- A detailed timeline for the process and call for nominations and selection of awardees will be forthcoming and publicly announced in all communications.
Late June: Email message to Steinhardt alumni worldwide for nominations
Mid July: Reminder email: “Two weeks left to nominate someone!”
July 26, 2024: Nominations deadline
Mid August: Awardees and nominators contacted
Mid to late August: Spirit of Steinhardt 2024 Awards announced via email
Mid September: Related press
October 26, 2024: Spirit of Steinhardt Alumni Awards Luncheon
Background
The NYU Steinhardt Alumni Community is a vast network of over 90,000 graduates residing around the world who are engaged in a multitude of careers which reflect the range of programs offered at the School’s eleven Departments. The achievements of these alumni are closely intertwined with the education they received at Steinhardt - an institution that is committed to being the outstanding vehicle for advancing the education, health, and wellbeing of people and communities around the world through the course of the human lifespan.