Laureate

The Honorable Robert M. Gates

U.S. Secretary of Defense (2006-2011)

Robert M. Gates served as the nation’s 22nd Secretary of Defense. Dr. Gates served eight U.S. presidents across both parties and has the distinction of being the only secretary of defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in office by a newly elected president.

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Past IQLA laureates represent such diverse fields as economics, business, public policy, medicine, social justice, and the world of music and entertainment. Included among the list of distinguished former recipients are:

2024

Scott Hamilton

Olympic Gold Medalist and Founder, Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation

2023

Bob Woodruff

ABC News Correspondent and Founder, Bob Woodruff Foundation

2022

Delta Airlines

Global Community Leader

2021

Kathie Lee Gifford

Emmy Award winning Entertainer, Author & Philanthropist

2020

Heroes of Covid-19

2019

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Pediatric Treatment & Research Facility

2018

Judy Woodruff

Anchor and managing editor of the "PBS NewsHour"

2017

Lauren Bush Lauren

Co-Founder and CEO of FEED

2016

Judith Rodin, Ph.D.

President, The Rockefeller Foundation 2005 – present
President Emerita, University of Pennsylvania

2015

John R. Lewis

Civil Rights Icon
& U.S. Representative,
Georgia's 5th Congressional Distric

2014

Maria Rodale

Chairman and CEO, Rodale Inc.

2013

Howard G. Buffett

President, The Howard G. Buffett Foundation

2012

Alastair J. S. Summerlee

President & Vice Chancellor

University of Guelph

2011

Fred Smith

Founder, Chairman, President, & CEO FedEx

2010

PBS

Public Service Media Organization

2009

Nancy Brinker

Ambassador and Founding Chair

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

2008

Teresa Heinz

Philanthropists & Sustainability Activist

2007

Ray C. Anderson

Chairman and Founder, Interface, Inc.

2006

Dr. Norman Ernest Borlaug

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

and Founder of the World Food Prize

2005

Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority

Public Benefit Corporation

New York, New York

2004

Ratan N. Tata

Chairman, Tata Group, Mumbai, India

2003

Alabama

Award Winning Music Group

2002

Madeleine K. Albright

64th U.S. Secretary of State

2001

Dr. Jack B. McConnell

Founder and CEO, Volunteers in Medicine

2000

Millard D. Fuller

Founder and President, Habitat for Humanity International

1999

Arthur C. Martinez

Chairman and CEO, Sears, Roebuck & Co.

1998

Desmond Mpilo Tutu

Nobel Peace Prize and

Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa

1997

Robert D. Haas

Chairman and CEO, Levi Strauss & Co.

1996

William R. Howell

Chairman, J.C. Penny Company, Inc.

1995

Elmer B. Harris

President and CEO, Alabama Power Company

1995

Lawrence R. Klein

Nobel Prize Laureate and

Benjamin Franklin Professor of Economics and Finace,

University of Pennsylvania

1995

Don Logan

President and CEO, Time Inc.

1994

John C. Adams

President, Chairman, and CEO, Russell Corporation

1994

Catherine Bertini

Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme

1994

Horst Schulze

President & COO, Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company