South SFV Today

Eight members of the Stanford community, including faculty, staff, and students, have been named winners of the Cuthbertson, Dinkelspiel, and Gores awards. These university awards are presented each spring to recognize excellence in teaching, distinguished service, and academic achievement within the Stanford community. Provost Jenny Martinez will present the awards at Stanford’s 133rd Commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 16, at Stanford Stadium.

The Kenneth M. Cuthbertson Award is open to all members of the Stanford community and recognizes extraordinary contributions to achieving university goals. This year’s recipient is Megan Pierson. Pierson serves as chief of staff to the president and secretary of the Board of Trustees. She has previously held roles as senior associate provost for faculty affairs and senior university counsel. Pierson is recognized for her dedication to Stanford’s mission and her support during leadership transitions. Her colleagues commend her for her collaborative spirit, commitment to integrity, transparency, empathy, and community.

The Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award acknowledges distinctive contributions to undergraduate education or student life quality. Alejandro Martinez is honored for his work as executive director of threat assessment. He has dedicated decades to promoting undergraduate mental health and well-being by removing barriers to mental health services access. Martinez played a significant role in implementing suicide intervention trainings and consulting on crisis response.

Haoxue Yan receives recognition for her contributions as a lecturer in materials science and engineering. She has shown dedication to undergraduate teaching by revising learning goals and curriculum alignment while supporting first-generation/low-income (FLI) students through various collaborations.

Ria Calcagno is awarded for creating an inclusive campus environment for people with disabilities. As a coterminal student pursuing degrees in computer science and political science, she led efforts that resulted in policies ensuring equitable housing costs for students with disabilities.

Selaine Rodriguez also receives recognition under the Dinkelspiel Award category for her commitment to academic excellence and fostering an inclusive culture within the computer science department.

The Walter J. Gores Award represents Stanford’s highest honor for teaching excellence across lecturing, tutoring, advising, and discussion leading categories.

Stephen Luby is recognized as Lucy Becker Professor in Medicine with notable contributions towards understanding interdisciplinary challenges at intersections like environmental science and public health policy.

Amir Bahmani receives acknowledgment as a lecturer in computational biology who co-founded courses integrating cutting-edge technology with education while bridging interdisciplinary gaps.

Kemi Oyewole earns recognition as a PhD candidate in education policy whose inspiring teaching empowers students toward social consciousness leadership roles.

Additionally, José Padilla (’74) and Fred Swaniker (MBA ’04) received the President’s Award for the Advancement of the Common Good honoring alumni impacting communities positively.