The Graduate School Alumni Society (GSAS) Humanitarian Award recognizes an alumnus/alumna holding a graduate degree from Penn State who has made a positive societal impact on the welfare of humankind beyond the responsibilities of one's profession. This includes a significant contribution benefiting one's community, state, and/or nation, or people of other nations.

Past recipients of the Humanitarian Award can be found below:

2023

• James Bennett, Ph.D. '82. Vocational Industrial Education

2022

• Judi Wakhungu, Ambassador of Kenya to the French Republic, Portugal, Serbia, Monaco, and the Holy See

2021

• Amelia Henry, Ph.D. '08, Plant Biology

2018

• David W. Will, M.F.A. '78 and B.A. '72, Theatre

2017

• James E. McClure, M.A. '94, American Studies

2008

• Charles P. Hoiberg, Ph.D. '70, Biochemistry

2006

• T. Ming Chu, Ph.D. '67, Biochemistry

2005

• Robert C. Shaler, Ph.D. '68, Biochemistry