Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the 2026 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership, which is the highest external honor bestowed by the University and recognizes the achievements of luminaries who embrace endeavors in which Jefferson excelled and held in high regard.

Almost 200 people came to Garrett Hall to hear from renowned civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson, recipient of the 2025 Thomas Jefferson Medal in Citizen Leadership. He spoke with UVA Batten Dean Ian H. Solomon, who introduced Stevenson as a "fierce moral advocate," with an abiding dedication to helping the poor, the incarcerated, the wrongly accused, and others whom society largely has forgotten or neglected.

Last Friday, the Batten School was honored to celebrate Julieanna L. Richardson, the school’s recipient of the 2024 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Virginia. Richardson is founder and president of The HistoryMakers, the groundbreaking digital archive of Black leaders who helped shape American history.

Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian has been named this year’s recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership. The medal honors individuals whose work exemplifies Thomas Jefferson’s commitment to the duty and virtue of public service, and is the University’s highest external honor.

Sherrie Rollins Westin, president of Sesame Workshop and a 1980 graduate of UVA, has been named this year’s recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership, an award selected by the Batten School.

Dr. Rajiv J. Shah is president of The Rockefeller Foundation, a global philanthropic organization that harnesses advances in data, science and technology to help the world’s most vulnerable.

As rainy, gray clouds loomed over Monticello, Sylvia Earle – an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer named a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, and this year’s recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership – gave her keynote address.

Renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle is the 2019 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership.

"Any (agricultural) system...will require genetic diversity. The best I can do right now is try to conserve that diversity.” — Morgan Carrington “Cary” Fowler Jr., known as the “father” of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, has been an advocate for disadvantaged Americans for her entire professional life. Under her leadership, CDF has become the nation’s strongest voice for children and families.

“Congressman Lewis exemplifies citizen leadership,” said Allan Stam, former dean of the Batten School. “From his days as a student leader to his co-founding of SNCC to his long career as an elected official, he has selflessly served the public good."