Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman received several awards and
honorary degrees this spring in recognition of her work as an educator
and a scientist.
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City awarded her
its Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Biomedical Research. Given
annually since 1981, the award recognizes the achievements of those who
have taken a leadership role in the laboratory, in the clinic or in
government service in the promotion and enhancement of biomedical
research. Tilghman, a world-renowned molecular biologist who taught at
Princeton before becoming president, was recognized for her work as a
teacher, a researcher and a national leader, and for encouraging the
teaching of science to nonscientists.
The Miss Hall's School, a girls boarding school in Pittsfield, Mass.,
selected Tilghman to receive its first Woman of Distinction Award.
Starting this year, the award is being given annually to a woman who is
nationally recognized for achievements in her field, as well as for her
success in raising awareness of topics related to gender, and for her
commitment to advancing the role of women in the world.
In its citation, the school notes that Tilghman "is renowned not only
for her pioneering research, but for her national leadership on behalf
of women in science and for promoting efforts to make the early careers
of young scientists as meaningful and productive as possible."
A Better Chance, a nonprofit organization based in New York City that
provides educational opportunities to young people of color, gave
Tilghman the Benjamin Mays Award. She was honored as an educator whose
principles of personal commitment, integrity, achievement and concern
for others reflect those of Mays, who was president of Morehouse
College from 1940 to 1967.
Tilghman also was awarded honorary degrees from Columbia University,
New York University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey.
Columbia lauded Tilghman "not only for her pioneering research, but
also for her leadership on behalf of women in science. Tilghman has
helped launch the careers of many female scholars as a member of the
Pew Charitable Trusts Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
Selection Committee and the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust Scholar
Selection Committee."
NYU recognized Tilghman's work as a teacher, a scientist and a
university president: "You are leading that great university in
pacesetting directions even as you have encouraged the teaching of
science and technology to Princeton students outside those fields."
UMDNJ honored Tilghman as a "leading advocate for increasing the number
of women and minorities choosing careers in the basic sciences."
