Austin College formally launched the Posey Leadership Award in 2005, naming its first honoree in 2006. The Posey Leadership Award honors an outstanding individual who has demonstrated the principles of servant leadership by:
- taking a courageous stand on a public policy issue that advances a humanitarian or educational purpose,
- serving the youth of a state, nation, or international community to improve the quality of health, educational, or community services, or
- by creating opportunities for young people that help them enhance their educational experience and move to a new level of service to society.
2019 – María Teresa Kumar
On March 26-27, 2019, Austin College honored María Teresa Kumar as the 2019 Posey Leadership Award recipient on campus and at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas. Ms. Kumar is the founding President and CEO of Voto Latino, a leading national civic engagement organization that works to encourage Latino youth to participate in public policy. She earned a BA in Economics and International Affairs from the University of California, Davis, and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
2018 – Barbara Pierce Bush
Barbara Pierce Bush, a young global activist, and author is renowned for her work as the CEO and co-founder of Global Health Corps, an organization that mobilizes a global community of young leaders to build a movement for health equity. She graduated from Yale in 2004 with a degree in Humanities and has demonstrated profound servant leadership by encouraging and developing a new generation of leaders in the health sector.
As CEO of the Global Health Corps, Ms. Bush’s work has spread in countries including Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia and she strives to develop a network of young leaders who share the common belief: “Health is a human right.” By sending well-trained fellows to those vulnerable communities, Ms. Bush believes that young leaders play an active role in advancing social justice. In our year of the centennial celebration of co-education at Austin College, we are delighted to honor a young woman of international leadership.
2017 – Vikram Patel
Vikram Patel, a psychiatrist, researcher, and teacher renowned for his work in creating access to public mental health has demonstrated profound servant leadership through his research and leadership in providing innovative ways to extend mental health solutions in low-resource areas around the world. He founded the Centre for Global Mental Health in London and is currently director of the Centre for Control of Chronic Conditions in New Delhi, India, helping to improve access to mental health treatment.
2016 – Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn have written several bestselling books, including their most recent book A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity. The book provides research-based solutions to issues facing women and girls worldwide. Kristof and WuDunn are also the founders of the Half the Sky Movement, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges facing women and girls. The Half the Sky Movement uses interactive elements of social media and partners with nonprofits such as TOSTAN, Women for Women International, Grameen Foundation, and others.
Video Highlights
2015 – Shigeru Ban
Shigeru Ban has spent years volunteering and designing disaster relief shelters to give millions a place to call home. The founder and head of the non-profit Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN), Mr. Ban has been named one of the 21st-century innovators in the field of architecture and design by TIME magazine and was the 2014 Pritzker laureate winner. Most recently, Ban has been selected as the “Le Grande de Commandeur” (The Grand Commander) in L’Ordre des Arts et des Letteres (Order of the Arts and Letters), to recognize his significant contributions to the arts.
Video Galleries
2014 – Nathan Wolfe
Dr. Nathan Wolfe’s work as a pioneering epidemiologist—researching the transmission of deadly viruses similar to HIV or SARS—could prevent such threats from emerging as the next pandemic. Wolfe has spent years tracking viral hot spots in the jungles of Africa and Southeast Asia and building a disease forecasting system to protect the lives of millions. The 43-year old scientist, named to TIME’s list of most influential people in 2011 and a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2011, and is the author of The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic.
Video Galleries
- GO Forum Highlights
- Nathan Wolfe Presentation – Perot Museum
- Nathan Wolfe Presentation – Austin College
2013 – Salman Khan
Salman Khan has made basic learning skills possible for people across the globe who have been denied access to education. By providing free and open access to teaching and resources, both teachers and students are benefiting in places where the most basic prerequisites for education are missing. Through his leadership, passion, and vision for a world-class education, Khan has incorporated digital technology to revolutionize learning. The Khan Academy provides online lessons and resources free to anyone across the globe.
Video Galleries
- Austin College GO! Forum – 3-minute highlight
- Sal Khan Presentation – Perot Museum
- Sal Khan Presentation – Austin College
2012 – Marian Wright Edelman
Marian Wright Edelman, founder, and president of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) 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. The Children’s Defense Fund’s Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
2011 – Zainab Salbi
Zainab Salbi founded Women for Women International in 1993, a global grassroots women’s organization that provides women survivors of war and other conflicts with the tools and resources they need to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency. Since its inception, Women for Women International has served more than 271,000 women worldwide, providing them with access to social and economic opportunities through a year-long training program in rights awareness, vocational and technical skills development, and income generation assistance.
2010 – Muhammad Yunus
Dr. Muhammad Yunus pioneered microcredit and founded Grameen Bank in Bangladesh as part of an effort to create a world without poverty. He is the author of Banker to the Poor, A World Without Poverty, and Building Social Business. He was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize and the 2009 U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2009 – Greg Mortenson
Greg Mortenson has dedicated his life to promoting community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is the co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit Central Asia Institute and founded Pennies for Peace. He is the author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools.
2008 – Geoffrey Canada
Geoffrey Canada founded the Harlem Children’s Zone, which aims to revitalize one of New York City’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. His determination to revitalize Harlem one block at a time has earned him numerous accolades, including the McGraw Prize for Education, the Jefferson Award for Public Service, the Robin Hood Foundation’s Heroes of the Year Award, Child magazine’s “Children’s Champion” award, the Spirit of the City Award from the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Bowdoin College’s Common Good Award, and New York University’s Brennan Legacy Award.
2007 – Paul Farmer
Paul Farmer, M.D. Ph.D. challenges the idea that quality health care is impossible in resource-poor settings. His charity, Partners In Health, provides direct health care services and undertakes research and advocacy for those who are sick and living in poverty. Farmer has pioneered novel, community-based treatment strategies for AIDS and tuberculosis, including multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. In 1993, he was awarded a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Genius Award in recognition of his work. Farmer also is the subject of Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World.
2006 – Wendy Kopp
Wendy Kopp, president and founder of Teach For America, was the first Posey Leadership Award recipient. Teach For America is a national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunities. Since 1996, 21 Austin College alumni have joined Teach For America.