2025 Commencement Awards
Members of the SAIS community were recognized during the commencement ceremony for their outstanding achievements.
Lee Kempler ’91 was awarded the 2025 SAIS Founders Award. The award is given to individuals who provide extraordinary service to SAIS and who make significant contributions to the tradition of excellence at SAIS.
Jazzlyn Braswell was the recipient of the 2025 Dean's Award for Exemplary Service in recognition of her tremendous efforts and dedication to SAIS.
Esther Akosua Manu and Andres Mariano Mejia received The Christian A. Herter Award for their distinguished academic performance as it is given to members of the second-year class with the most outstanding academic record during the first three semesters.
Hadiza Musa and Saydie Greenleaf Starnes received the William C. Foster Award for sound scholarship and record of leadership and distinguished service to SAIS.
In recognition of valuable contributions in teaching for the 2024-2025 academic year, students selected the following faculty members to receive Excellence in Teaching honors:
International Economics
Language Studies
K. Mi Tak, Korean language Instructor and Coordinator
Functional Focus Area
Regional Focus Area
Outstanding Adjunct Lecturer
Deborah Wituski, Adjunct Lecturer