John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Stanford University has honored José Padilla and Fred Swaniker with the 2024 President’s Award for the Advancement of the Common Good. This accolade recognizes alumni who have significantly impacted their communities and the world through public service.
“I am delighted that this year’s award honors José and Fred, two alumni who have dedicated their careers to uplifting communities and solving entrenched social problems,” said President Richard Saller. “They exemplify the values of learning, social responsibility, and service that are at the heart of the President’s Award for the Advancement of the Common Good.”
José Padilla, a Stanford alumnus from 1974, served as executive director of California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) for nearly four decades. His efforts focused on championing the rights of farmworkers and those experiencing rural poverty. Padilla's upbringing in Brawley, California—a community near the U.S.-Mexico border—shaped his commitment to education and advocacy.
“Your schooling was not for you to get rich or to get a good job that paid a high salary,” Padilla said. “You were to consider something where you could give back, and lawyering allowed me to advocate for the community where I had been born and raised.”
During his time at Stanford, Padilla engaged in activism, participating in boycotts and picket lines led by Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. He contributed significantly to campus culture as editor and political cartoonist for Chicanismo newspaper, founder of Miquiztli literary magazine, and resident assistant at Casa Zapata.
Padilla earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Stanford in 1974 and a law degree from UC Berkeley in 1978. Before joining CRLA, he helped develop various community initiatives including a low-income credit union, bilingual radio station Radio Sin Fronteras, and an immigration center serving Central American refugees.
At CRLA, Padilla led a team providing free civil legal services to approximately 48,000 rural farmworkers annually. The organization achieved notable legal victories under his leadership including restoring $20 million in family planning funding for indigent Californians and filing groundbreaking lawsuits addressing environmental racism and sexual harassment among farmworker women.
“It starts with a problem that just walks into your office,” Padilla said. “We were always driven to ask what other communities are we not reaching?”
Fred Swaniker has supported innovation and responsible corporate practices across Africa while serving as a global leader in social entrepreneurship. Swaniker founded the African Leadership Group with a vision to develop three million ethical leaders by 2035 through its key organizations: African Leadership Academy, African Leadership University, and Sand Technologies.
“What motivates me ultimately is my undying love for Africa,” Swaniker said. “I’m not going to stop until I achieve a dream for Africa as being prosperous, peaceful, and successful as it can be.”
Swaniker's journey began in Ghana before becoming headmaster of a school in Botswana at age 18 following his father’s death. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Macalester College (1999) and an MBA from Stanford (2004). At Stanford, he conceived the idea for African Leadership Group during an MBA class project.
“Stanford sets the tone that innovation is allowed here,” Swaniker said. “It’s...expected...That’s what Stanford students do—they change the world.”
The African Leadership Group has grown substantially under Swaniker's guidance training thousands across multiple campuses while integrating leadership ethics with technology training addressing global issues such as healthcare climate change education wildlife conservation among others
Swaniker expressed feeling "incredibly surprised privileged honored" by receiving this award noting how pivotal opportunities shaped his philosophy towards using privilege responsibly creating opportunities solving big problems
The Office partnered Haas Center Public Service Stanford Alumni Association created award inviting university community nominate living alumni recent graduates established careers public service committee comprising alumni faculty staff reached strong consensus selecting winners
Award joins other university recognitions conferred during Commencement honoring faculty students staff nomination period open information available Haas Center website
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