Named for James Madison, Princeton’s first graduate alumnus, the Madison Medal was established in 1973 by the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni (APGA). Upon the recommendation of the APGA Committee on Nominations and Awards and the Madison Medal Selection Committee, this honor is conferred each year on an alumnus or alumna of the Graduate School who has had a distinguished career, advanced the cause of graduate education or achieved a record of outstanding public service.

Make a nomination for the James Madison Medal.

Previous Award Recipients

• 2024 - John Fitzpatrick *78 (Biology)
• 2023 - Robert Kahn *64 (Electrical Engineering)
• 2022 - Julia Wolfe *12 (Music)
• 2021 - Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the award was not conferred.
• 2020 - Kip Thorne *65 (Physics)
• 2019 - Carol Quillen *91 (History)
• 2018 - Daniel Mendelsohn *94 (Classics)
• 2017 - Pedro Pablo Kuczynski *61 (The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs)
• 2016 - James Heckman *71 (Economics)
• 2015 - Martin Eakes *80 (The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs)
• 2014 - Hunter R. Rawlings III *70 (Classics)
• 2013 - Arminio Fraga *85 (Economics)
• 2012 - Lisa Jackson *86 (Chemical Engineering)
• 2011 - Elaine Fuchs *77 (Biochemistry)
• 2010 - David H. Petraeus *85 *87 (The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs)
• 2009 - Claire Max *72 (Astrophysical Sciences)
• 2008 - Lawrence P. Goldman *69 *76 (The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs)
• 2007 - Julius E. Coles *66 (The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs)
• 2006 - Arthur D. Levinson *77 (Biochemical Sciences)
• 2005 - Nathan P. Myhrvold *83 (Applied Mathematics)
• 2004 - Harold T. Shapiro *64 (Economics)
• 2003 - Peter D. Bell *64 (The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs)
• 2002 - George B. Rathmann *51 (Chemistry)
• 2001 - N. Lloyd Axworthy *72 (Politics)
• 2000 - Chang-Lin Tien *59 (Mechanical Engineering)
• 1999 - Ralph E. Gomory *54 (Mathematics)
• 1998 - Charles Rosen ’48 *51 (Modern Languages & Literature)
• 1997 - W. Anthony K. Lake *74 (The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs)
• 1996 - Cornel R. West *80 (Philosophy)
• 1995 - Norman R. Augustine ’57 *59 (Aeronautical Engineering)
• 1994 - William G. Bowen *58 (Economics & Sociology)
• 1993 - Edward Witten *76 (Physics)
• 1992 - George F. Will *68 (Politics)
• 1991 - Steven Weinberg *57 (Physics)
• 1990 - William J. Crowe Jr. *65 (Politics)
• 1989 - Lyman Spitzer Jr. *38 (Physics)
• 1988 - Robert F. Goheen ’40 *48 (Classics)
• 1987 - J. Hugh MacLennan *35 (Classics)
• 1986 - Milton B. Babbitt *42 (Music)
• 1985 - Robert Venturi ’47 *50 (Architecture)
• 1984 - John W. Tukey *39 (Mathematics)
• 1983 - Lewis H. Sarett *42 (Chemistry)
• 1982 - Jack W. Peltason *47 (Politics)
• 1981 - Ira O. Wade *24 (Modern Languages & Literature)
• 1980 - Lowell Thomas, GS 1916 (History & Politics)
• 1979 - W. Michael Blumenthal *53 *56 (The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Economics & Sociology)
• 1978 - Frederick Seitz *34 (Physics)
• 1977 - John W. Milnor ’51 *54 (Mathematics)
• 1976 - Andrew J. Goodpaster *49 *50 (Politics, Civil Engineering)
• 1975 - William O. Baker *39 (Chemistry)
• 1974 - Thornton Wilder *26 (Modern Languages & Literature)
• 1973 - John Bardeen *36 (Physics)