Stanford University has announced the recipients of the 2025 President’s Award for Advancement of the Common Good. The award honors alumni who have used their talents and education to make a positive impact on communities worldwide.
This year’s honorees are Gayatri Datar, MBA ’14, co-founder and CEO of EarthEnable, and Pamela Ronald, MS ’84, a plant geneticist. Stanford President Jonathan Levin praised both recipients for their contributions. “Pamela and Gayatri have created real and lasting change in communities around the world,” he said.
Datar’s work with EarthEnable focuses on providing affordable and sustainable housing solutions in Africa. Her journey began during her time as an MBA student at Stanford when she participated in a course called Design for Extreme Affordability. This experience led her to co-found EarthEnable, which trains local masons to create earthen floors that are more cost-effective than concrete. These floors help reduce health risks associated with dirt floors.
Reflecting on her work, Datar stated, “If you can fix a shelter problem, you can contribute to health, safety, jobs, and to climate resilience.” Since its inception in 2014, EarthEnable has impacted over 250,000 lives in East Africa.
Ronald’s research focuses on rice genetics to improve food security. Her work has resulted in rice varieties that can withstand flooding and disease resistance. She holds positions at several institutions including the University of California, Davis.
Ronald credits her early experiences at Stanford with shaping her career path. She said studying plant biology was her way of following her father’s guidance to use privilege for helping others.
The award is part of Stanford’s efforts to recognize contributions made by its community members towards public service. It was established in collaboration with the Haas Center for Public Service and the Stanford Alumni Association.
