Alumni | June 5, 2023

Centennial Medalists

Six alumni of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are honored.

From The July-August 2023 Issue

Group photo of Du Yun, Daniel Goleman, Mina Jahan Bissell, Sanford Greenberg, Catherine Gattegno Cesarsky, and John Dower — Graduate School of Arts and Sciences honorands (from left) Du Yun, Daniel Goleman, Mina Jahan Bissell, Sanford Greenberg, Catherine Gattegno Cesarsky, and John Dower
Photograph by Tony Rinaldo

The Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Centennial Medal, first awarded in 1989 on the occasion of the school’s hundredth anniversary, honors alumni who have made contributions to society that emerged from their graduate studies. It is the highest honor GSAS bestows, and awardees include some of Harvard’s most accomplished alumni. The 2023 recipients, celebrated on May 24, are: Mina Jahan Bissell ’63, Ph.D. ’69, a pioneer in breast cancer research; Catherine Gattegno Cesarsky, Ph.D. ’72, one of the world’s leading astronomers; John Dower, A.M. ’61, Ph.D. ’72, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of Japan; Du Yun, Ph.D. ’06, a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, musician, and visual artist; Daniel Goleman, Ph.D. ’74, psychologist, writer, and author of Emotional Intelligence (see more at harvardmag.com/goleman-98); and Sanford Greenberg, Ph.D. ’65, L ’68, an inventor, business leader, and philanthropist. The 2023 Centennial Medal award ceremony is available for viewing on the school’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@harvardgsas/videos). See longer biographies of the medalists at harvardmag.com/cen-medal-23.

Published in the July-August 2023 print issue in the John Harvard's Journal section.

You might also like

A man in a suit waves while smiling, with greenery in the background.

He was Harvard’s quintessential people person.

Soccer player and goalkeeper Matt Freese standing in front of the net

The former economics concentrator brings his talent for crunching numbers to netminding.

A man in a tuxedo gestures while holding an award on a stage.

Graduates John Lithgow, Bill Rauch, and Bess Wohl took home prizes on Sunday night.

Most popular

Historic building entrance featuring tall columns and a rounded arch doorway.

A new proposed structure, layoffs, and a five-day-a-week in-person work mandate will take effect by fall.

White House and Harvard University buildings split diagonally with contrasting colors.

Harvard Weathers a Year of Turmoil

The federal government has launched unprecedented actions against the University. Here’s a guide.

Two mounted pheasants displayed on a stand against a gray background.

Lafayette’s Unexpected Gift to George Washington: Pheasants

The two birds will be on display at Harvard this summer.

Explore More From Current Issue

Two figures stand before a large, colorful pixelated face against a yellow background.

Research

Harvard scientists identify hundreds of genes under selective pressure.

Singer performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a hat, and surrounded by band instruments.

Arts & Culture

Singer Elisa Smith’s whiskey-soaked voice and subversive feminism is part of the genre’s urban shift.

An open book with a film strip emerging, trailing popcorn and a dancer silhouette.

Letters to the Editor

Readers Respond to Our Adaptations Survey

We asked people to share their favorite art adaptations. Here’s what they said.