Office of the President

Presidential Medal

The Hofstra University Presidential Medal is one of the most prestigious awards given by the University to distinguished persons in recognition of outstanding career achievement, scholarly excellence, leadership in the professions, noteworthy public service or humanitarian endeavors.

The Hofstra University Presidential Medal was first awarded in 1977 by President James M. Shuart.

Presidential Medal Recipients

  • Saul Bellow
  • Ralph C. Bledsoe
  • Maurice Couve de Murville
  • David Eisenhower
  • John Eisenhower
  • Milton Eisenhower
  • Edgar Faure
  • Robert W. Greene
  • Jeane J. Kirkpatrick
  • Raymond H. Malone
  • Hon. Joseph N. Mondello
  • Bill Moyers
  • Maureen Reagan
  • Hon. Sol Wachtler
  • 1979 – Abba Eban
  • Dec. 1979 – Isaac Beshavis Singer
  • Mar. 1983 – Harold Wilson
  • Apr. 1983 – Clark Clifford 
  • Apr. 1983 – Margaret Truman Daniel
  • Jun. 1983 – George G. Dempster ‘61
  • Sept. 1983 – John Kenneth Galbraith
  • Mar. 1984 – Theodore Bickel
  • Mar. 1984 – Clare Boothe Luce
  • May 1984 – Emil V. Cianciulli ‘52
  • Jun. 29, 1984 – Hon. Francis T. Purcell
  • Sept. 1984 – Basil Paterson
  • Sept. 1984 – Frank J. Stanton
  • Mar. 29, 1985 – Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
  • Mar. 29, 1985 – Theodore C. Sorenson
  • Mar. 30, 1985 – Pierre Salinger
  • Apr. 18, 1985 – Robert H. Atwell
  • May 11, 1985 – Frederick de Matteis
  • Nov. 1985 – Howard Weingrow
  • Apr. 24, 1987 – Hon. Marcus C. Christ
  • Apr. 24, 1987 – Hon. Frank A. Gulotta
  • Apr. 24, 1987 – Hon. Bernard S. Meyer
  • Oct. 1987 – Grace Murray Hopper
  • Nov. 19, 1987 – Dr. Henry Kissinger
  • Apr. 1988 – Elie Wiesel
  • Feb. 1989 – Dr. Mary Emery
  • Mar. 11, 1989 – Morris Carnovsky
  • May 1989 – Hon. Dalton R. Miller
  • Nov. 1989 – Anthony T. Procelli
  • Sept. 1990 – James Duffy
  • Oct. 10, 1990 – Dan Laurence
  • Nov. 4, 1991 – H.R.H Princess Margriet of the Netherlands
  • Dec. 1991 – Bernard J. Fixler
  • May 17, 1992 – Judith A. Langer
  • Jun. 1992 – Hon. Joseph M. Margiotta
  • Nov. 5, 1993 – Myron H. Luke
  • May 22, 1994 – Frank G. Zarb ‘57
  • May 22, 1994 – Zachary W. Carter
  • May 22, 1994 – Paul B. Townsend
  • Sept. 5, 1996 – Rochelle M. Lowenfeld
  • May 30, 1997 – M. James Fellman
  • Jun. 20, 1997 – Hon. David S. Mack ‘67
  • Jun. 19, 1998 – Boomer Esiason
  • Nov. 13, 1998 – Frank Sinatra 
  • Nov. 13, 1998 – Alan King
  • Nov. 13, 1998 – Vic Damone
  • Feb. 27, 1999 – Ossie Davis
  • Feb. 27, 1999 – Ruby Dee
  • Oct. 21, 1999 – Tippi Hedren
  • Oct. 21, 1999 – Theresa Wright
  • Jun. 10, 1999 – Peter S. Kalikow ‘65
  • Dec. 15, 1999 – Carol A. Bronzo ‘54
  • May 2000 – Hon. Mayanne Trump Barry
  • Sept. 12, 2000 – Richard T. Bennett
  • May 30, 2001 – J. Richard Block ‘52
  • Dec. 23, 2001 – Edwin G. Burrows
  • May 20, 2002 – David C. Christman
  • Oct. 2002 – John J. Conefry
  • Dec. 22, 2002 – Deanna Chitayat
  • Mar. 2, 2003 – P.J. Kalff
  • Mar. 28, 2003 – Cy Coleman
  • May 2003 – James Watson
  • May 18, 2003 – Sylvia Giallombardo
  • May 29, 2003 – Nelson DeMille ‘70
  • May 29, 2003 – Donald E. Axinn ‘75
  • Nov. 3, 2003 – Mario Vargas Llosa
  • May 24, 2004 – Rev. Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman
  • May 26, 2005 – Robert Wood Johnson
  • May 22, 2005 – Hon. Charles E. Schumer
  • Oct. 20, 2005 – Raymond Cross
  • Nov. 5, 2005 – Arthur Levitt, Jr.
  • May 4, 2006 – Helene Fortunoff
  • May 3, 2007 – Patricia K. Zarb, ‘57
  • May 20, 2007 – Ellen V. Futter, JD
  • May 18, 2008 – Adam Liptak
  • May 18, 2008 – Hon. David Paterson ‘83
  • May 6, 2009 – Dr. Robert F. Engle
  • May 6, 2010 – Joseph Shapiro
  • May 16, 2010 – Dora B. Schriro
  • Dec. 1, 2010 – Joseph Grundfest
  • May 22, 2011 – Hon. Eric T. Schneiderman
  • May 19, 2014 – Judith A. Livingston, JD ‘79
  • Oct. 23, 2015 – Dr. Bernice A. King
  • May 17, 2015 – Kathleen Rice
  • May 15, 2016 – Michael Roberge, ‘92
  • May 4, 2017 – Alan J. Bernon
  • May 21, 2017 – Dr. Bernard Firestone
  • Apr. 22, 2019 – Judge Judy Sheindlin
  • May 2, 2019 – Robert D. Rosenthal
  • May 20, 2019 – Hon. Loretta Lynch
  • May 24, 2021 - Dr. Herman Berliner
  • December 12, 2021 - Michael D’Innocenzo
  • May 22, 2022 - Dr. Bruce Farber