Amy Gutmann will receive the Only in America Award on Nov. 5 at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History’s gala.
Credit: Chenyao Liu
Former Penn President Amy Gutmann will receive the Only in America Award — celebrating the contributions of Jewish Americans to society — this fall.
The award recognizes Gutmann’s leadership as Penn’s longest-serving president from 2004 to 2022, her service as the United States Ambassador to Germany from 2022 to 2024, her work as a “scholar of democracy,” and her advocacy for victims of antisemitism. The award will be presented at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History’s gala on Nov. 5.
“Supporting students’ success and fostering an inclusive community dedicated to free inquiry and educational excellence has always been at the heart of my work,” Gutmann wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “I simply adore helping young people thrive, preparing them to lead with purpose and passion, and I love staying in touch with so many Penn graduates.”
Gutmann emphasized that her most meaningful initiatives as Penn’s eighth president included her all-grant financial aid policy and Penn Compact — a program promoting access to higher education, interdisciplinary knowledge, and global engagement. The programs “reflect both the American promise and the Jewish tradition,” Gutmann wrote.
Through these programs, Penn tripled the number of first-generation students and created the President’s Engagement and Innovation Prizes, the Penn Paideia Program, Penn Park, and two undergraduate college houses.
Gutmann’s work as a scholar and ambassador has earned her recognition from peers, including former Board of Trustees Chair and former U.S. ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen.
“Her career is a masterclass in visionary leadership, fierce intellect, and moral courage,” Cohen said in a press release announcing the award. “From leading one of America’s greatest universities to representing our nation in Germany, she has consistently elevated dialogue, advanced equity, and honored her heritage.”
Gutmann expressed her pride in “expanding access to education,” calling the initiatives “deeply meaningful” to her “as the daughter of a Jewish refugee and as a first-generation college graduate.”
Gutmann’s father fled Germany in 1934 and settled in the United States, seeking refuge from Nazi persecution. Gutmann cites both his legacy and her mother’s perseverance as inspirations in her career.
“My father’s experience taught me the value of freedom and the urgent need to act with courage, and to stand up and speak out against cruelty,” Guttmann wrote to the DP. “Also knowing my mother’s experience in keeping hope alive amid dire poverty, I became absolutely committed to defending human rights, creating opportunities for all, and making education affordable.”
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“Dr. Gutmann is a force for good in the world,” Weitzman President and CEO Dan Tadmor said in the press release. “She is a friend of Israel and the Jewish American community. She is deeply connected to Philadelphia, while taking a national and global approach to her work.”
In August 2024, Gutmann returned to Penn as a professor at the Annenberg School for Communication and shared some advice for students with the DP.
“Always lead with utmost integrity, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering commitment to serve others,” Gutmann wrote. By combining your passion with public purpose, you will lift others up with you, you will build community and give great meaning to your own life.”
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