Columbia University is celebrating a wide array of achievements by its faculty, staff, and students, encompassing significant awards in research, institutional excellence, and leadership across various disciplines from June 25 to August 26, 2026. These recognitions highlight the university's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and academic distinction.
Among institutional honors, Abby Black Elbaum (CC’92, BUS’94), co-chair of the University Board of Trustees, will receive the 2026 Alexander Hamilton Medal. The building at 611 W. 112th Street earned Merit Awards for Renovation/Restoration and Sustainability from ENR New York. Additionally, the Columbia Li Lu Law Library and the residence hall at 600 W. 125th Street achieved LEED Gold Certification, with the Law Library also securing an Interior Design Award from the ALA/IIDA for its innovative design.
Faculty members garnered substantial recognition, including three projects led by Kyle Bishop, Norman Christ, and Kara Lamb receiving Genesis Mission funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to integrate artificial intelligence into scientific discovery. Katrina Armstrong and Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic were named to Forbes' 50 Over 50 list for their impactful work in health equity and tissue regeneration, respectively. Monica Coronel was selected for the Fulbright Specialist Roster, while Yuval Efron, Frank Guridy, Giulia Sacca, and Calvin Thrall were chosen for the Institute for Advanced Study. Lila Abu-Lughod, Kimberle Crenshaw, and John Ma were elected 2026 British Academy Fellows for their contributions to humanities and social sciences.
In medicine and science, Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri and Kara Rudolph received awards from the Society for Epidemiologic Research. Folarin Kolawole will be honored with the 2026 Seth and Carol Stein Early Career Award in Geophysics and Geodynamics. Michel Sadelain accepted the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge award for his pioneering work in CAR-T therapy, and Philip Michael Tuts received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. ATLAS Experiment. Renata Wentzcovitch was named Distinguished Lecturer of the AGU College of Fellows.
Columbia Engineering secured an $18 million grant from the National Science Foundation for a new Materials Research Science and Engineering Center for Advanced Electronic Materials, directed by Colin Nuckolls and Xiaoyang Zhu. Elham Azizi, in collaboration with Jose McFaline-Figueroa, received a Gray Foundation grant of up to $500,000 for BRCA-related cancer research.
Social sciences faculty also saw significant accolades. Nikhar Gaikwad received the 2026 Luebbert Best Article Prize. Richard R. John was awarded the 2026 C. Edwin Baker Award. Eunji Kim earned a 2026 Distinguished Junior Scholar Award and multiple APSA awards for her research on social media's impact on politics, including the Paul Lazarsfeld Best Paper Award. Tey Meadow joined the editorial board of Contexts, and Tamar Mitts received the Best Book Award for "Safe Havens for Hate."
Student and staff accomplishments further underscore the university's vibrant community. Twenty-six undergraduates were named 2026-2027 Millennium Fellows for their work on UN Sustainable Development Goals. Katie Figueroa received a 2026 Ray Fellowship for conservation leadership, and Val Jeanty was accepted into the John Lewis Young Leaders program. Jacqueline Cofield was awarded a 2026-27 Scholars-in-Residence Short-Term Fellowship. Finally, Columbia Magazine won four 2026 “Circle of Excellence” writing awards from CASE, recognizing the journalistic excellence of its senior editors David J. Craig and Paul Hond. These diverse achievements reflect Columbia University's ongoing impact across a broad spectrum of fields.