Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals

The Global Programs and Strategy Alliance (GPS Alliance) and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) are pleased to call for nominations for this University-wide award for internationals who have distinguished themselves in their post-university work as leaders in their professional careers.

This award carries no monetary compensation; however, recipients will be recognized in numerous ways and each will receive a certificate from the president of the University and an appropriate memento that acknowledges this honor. Some funding is provided to help offset award ceremony and event expenses.

This award may be conferred on international alumni, former students, and friends of any campus (current or former) of the University. Individuals will have attained unusual distinction as professionals in their careers within institutions or in public service and have either demonstrated sustained outstanding achievement and leadership, or demonstrated promise of such on a local, national, or international level. This is not primarily an award for academic achievement.

NOMINEE: Must be an international alumnus/alumna or former student of a University of Minnesota campus, or an international friend of the University who has established a meaningful linkage to the institution. In the case of alumni or former students, the nominee’s education at the University of Minnesota should have been significant to his or her academic or professional development. Friends are understood to include individuals such as international scholars and administrators of partner institutions who have established a significant linkage to the University through our faculty, colleges, schools, libraries, centers, institutes, or laboratories associated with research and/or education programs.

Nominees who have attended the University must have done so as international students or scholars and have spent the majority of their professional careers working outside the U.S. This does not preclude those who have worked for international institutions based in the U.S. Awards may be made posthumously.

NOMINATOR: Must be an alumnus or alumna of the University or a current or former member of the faculty or staff.

Note: The nomination is not confidential and may be disclosed to the nominee.

1. Nominees who attended the University must have done so as international students or scholars and have spent the majority of their professional careers working outside the U.S. This does not preclude those who have worked for international institutions based in the U.S. Awards may be made posthumously.
2. As the nomination is NOT confidential, the nominator can request the biographical and other information directly from the nominee.
3. In exceptional cases, and if approved in advance, a nomination can be initiated with only a nominating letter and biographical information. Please call or email the award coordinator to discuss the details. The award coordinator can assist nominators, if necessary, in securing these letters. The nominee can be involved in suggesting potential sources for such letters, particularly in his or her home country.
4. The GPS Alliance and UMAA will work with faculty and staff of all colleges and campuses of the University of Minnesota to recognize up to three international alumni per year.
5. The selection committee, in deciding to give awards, will give particular consideration to the geographic, disciplinary, and gender diversity of awardees in any given year. Recipients will be selected according to the impact of their work with equal weight being accorded to local, regional, or international impact. We particularly seek to honor those whose outstanding work, particularly in the developing world, has gone unremarked by the wider international community and who could benefit professionally from the recognition accorded by this award. Outstanding nominees who are not among those chosen in any given year can, on the recommendation of the selection committee, be carried over to the following year.
6. This award is not designed primarily to address academic achievement. The selection committee will look for evidence of leadership qualities in overcoming cultural or other obstacles in the course of the nominee’s distinguished career. The success of the individual in reaching beyond his or her own professional and disciplinary boundaries will also be a factor.
7. For any questions about the eligibility guidelines, please contact the award coordinator.

Should be no more than two pages, focus on personal knowledge of the nominee’s career accomplishments and reputation, and, if appropriate, how the nominee is or has been linked in a significant way to the University of Minnesota.

Complete the nomination form, which requests biographical and contact information for both the nominee and the nominator. The form works best when downloaded and filled out using Adobe Reader or Acrobat.

Not to exceed five pages and to include membership in professional societies, honors or awards, professional and public service, etc. Only the most significant publications need be enumerated.

200–300 words focusing on the nominee's outstanding leadership and achievement, or the demonstrated promise of such. See examples from past recipients.

A recent hard copy or high-quality 300-dpi photograph should also be enclosed (to be used for publicity).

No less than two and no more than three letters from the nominee’s peers, both within and outside the University. At least one of these must be from the nominee’s home country and at least one must come from a current or former UMN faculty or staff member. Note: Persons writing letters of nomination should know that such letters would be legally available to the nominee upon request.