Awards and Honors

Gloria Steinem and Kerri Miller onstage at Northrop Auditorium with Carlson Family Foundation board chair Wendy Nelson and Humphrey School Dean Laura Bloomberg

Throughout the year, the Humphrey School hosts and co-sponsors a variety of events to honor students, faculty, and alumni, as well as individuals and organizations in our broader community whose work aligns with the School's mission: to educate, engage, and equip leaders and communities to discover solutions that advance the common good in our diverse world.  


 

Liz Cheney stands behind a podium and speaks to the audience at Northrop

Distinguished Carlson Lecture Series

For more than four decades, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, with support from Carlson and the Carlson Family Foundation, has presented the Distinguished Carlson Lecture Series, bringing to Minnesota world-renowned speakers to participate in a forum dedicated to the presentation and discussion of the most important policy issues of the day. Our most recent Distinguished Carlson Lecturer was former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney on October 4, 2023. 

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Anthony Fauci, world-renowned infectious disease specialist, as our next speaker in this series. Fauci will discuss his 50-year career in medicine and public service at the event on Oct. 22, 2024 at 6 p.m. CT at Northrop, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.  

Find more information about his appearance


End-of-Year Awards

At the end of each year, the Humphrey School hosts an awards brunch to recognize students from each master's program for their academic excellence. Instructors and teaching assistants are also recognized for their contributions to the Humphrey School learning community.  

Student recipients of 2023 end-of-year awards

Nisha Botchwey with 2023 Public Leadership Award winners

Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards

The Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards, presented each year by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, honor individuals, organizations, and corporations that have contributed to the common good through leadership and service.

The 20th Public Leadership Awards will take place on September 12, 2024 at McNamara Alumni Center. The awardees are retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Margaret Chutich; Mukhtar Ibrahim, founding publisher of Sahan Journal; and Greater MSP Partnership. 

Established by the Humphrey School in 2003, the awards have recognized 81 recipients and have raised more than $2 million for student scholarships.