CEREMONY & DINNER
Jane Goodall Nikola Tesla Frank Lloyd Wright
Jacques Cousteau Marie and Pierre Curie
Robert Langer Gordon Moore
Orville Wright Paula Hammond Max Planck
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman
Edwin Hubble Jim West and Gerhard Sessler
Wilhem Röntgen Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn
Elizabeth Blackburn Emile Berliner
THE MISSION OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE
Rudolf Diesel Albert Einstein Arthur Clarke
Joan Ganz Cooney John Mather
inspire a passion FOR LEARNING ABOUT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. IS TO
Frances Arnold John Bardeen Marcian Ho
Kizzmekia Corbett Niels Bohr Solomon Golomb
Barry Marshall omas Edison
Cornelia Bargmann Andrew Viterbi
Philip Kim Charles Townes Fred Kavli
Sandra Faber J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly
Indra Nooyi Ruth Patrick
CEREMONY & DINNER
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2026
5:30 pm
Cocktail Reception Body Odyssey and Bartol Atrium
7:00 pm
Awards Ceremony
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial
Simulcast of Ceremony
The Eatery and Bartol Atrium
CEREMONY HOSTS
Derrick Pitts, Hon.D. Chief Astronomer, The Franklin Institute
Thomas J. Lynch Chair of the Board, The Franklin Institute
James F. Dever, Jr. President, Bank of America Greater Philadelphia
Larry Dubinski President and CEO, The Franklin Institute
8:30 pm
Dinner
Museum Galleries
9:30 pm
Dessert Reception Body Odyssey, Bartol Atrium
As the oldest comprehensive science and technology awards program in the United States, The Franklin Institute Awards has honored more than 2,000 of the world’s most impactful scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs since its inception in 1824. Celebrating extraordinary people who shape our world through their groundbreaking achievements is an important way the Institute honors the legacy of our namesake, Benjamin Franklin. Our laureates stand among us as modern-day exemplars of Franklin, whose impact as a statesman, scientist, and inventor remains unmatched in American history.
The 200-year history of The Franklin Institute practically documents the course of human discovery and innovation through the past two centuries—from the telegraph to the cell phone. The roster of previous laureates includes Nikola Tesla, Marie and Pierre Curie, Orville Wright, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ruth Patrick, Jacques Cousteau, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Blackburn, Cornelia Bargmann, Jim Allison, Frances Arnold, Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, Ken Frazier, Paula Hammond, and Lisa Su.
The 2026 program includes the Benjamin Franklin Medals in five fields of science and engineering and the Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award, supported by 21 endowed funds, and the Bower Awards for Achievement in Science and for Business Leadership. The Bower Awards are made possible through a bequest from the late Philadelphia chemical manufacturer Henry Bower, the grandson of a 19th century Franklin Institute laureate.
The Franklin Institute Awards Program is a fundamental part of the Institute’s mission to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. By recognizing important advances and those who achieved them, the Institute highlights the profound impact science and technology have on our lives today and their incredible promise for the future.
For more information, please visit The Franklin Institute Awards website at www.fi.edu/awards.
2026 Franklin Institute Laureates
BOWER AWARD AND PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENCE
David R. Liu, Ph.D.
Broad Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts
For pioneering an exciting new class of precise and effective gene-editing technologies that enable a broad range of applications in science, industry, and medicine, including the direct correction of many disease-causing mutations.
I’m grateful to The Franklin Institute for their leadership and for this special honor. I share it with my students, postdocs, and collaborators, whose creativity and dedication made our work possible; with fellow scientists in this field, whose discoveries paved the way; and especially with patients living with genetic diseases, whose courage and hope give this work its deepest purpose.
—DAVID
R. LIU
BOWER AWARD FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
David M. Rubenstein
The Carlyle Group Washington, D.C.
For embodying the legacy of Benjamin Franklin by blending visionary entrepreneurship with a profound commitment to the public good. Through his remarkable success as co-founder of The Carlyle Group and his passionate dedication to patriotic philanthropy, the arts, health, education, and civic engagement, he exemplifies the values that define the American spirit.
I am humbled and honored to receive the Bower Award for Business Leadership. Throughout my career in government, law, finance, philanthropy, and now major league baseball, I have tried, however imperfectly, to put into practice what our greatest leaders have preached: be honest and principled, treat people well, learn from your mistakes, be humble and grateful, and leave your piece of the world better than you found it.
—DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN
2026
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN NEXTGEN AWARD
Josh Alman, Ph.D.
Columbia University
New York, New York
For contributions to theoretical computer science through the design and analysis of algorithms for fundamental operations that are routinely performed in all fields of science and engineering.
It is a great honor to receive the Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award. I am especially grateful to my students and collaborators for their creativity, insight, and partnership, and to my family, friends, and mentors for their constant support. Benjamin Franklin applied mathematical thinking to science, invention, and public service, and he even spent some of his spare time constructing mathematical puzzles such as magic squares. Today, mathematics is woven throughout modern society, including nearly every aspect of computing.
—JOSH ALMAN
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN CHEMISTRY
Geoffrey W. Coates, Ph.D.
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
For transformative work at the interface of chemical catalyst design and polymer science leading to novel ways of making biodegradable and recyclable plastics.
Benjamin Franklin was not only one of America’s Founding Fathers, but also a scientist and inventor who championed the idea that science should serve humanity, an ideal that continues to inspire us today. I am honored to receive The Franklin Institute’s Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry and to share it with the exceptional students, postdocs, and collaborators whose creativity and perseverance have made our discoveries possible.
—GEOFFREY W. COATES
2026 Franklin Institute Laureates
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
Pedro J.J. Alvarez, Ph.D.
Rice University Houston, Texas
For pioneering discoveries in environmental microbiology that established the field of environmental nanotechnology and revolutionized pollution remediation, with a major influence on industry standards and governmental policy.
To be associated with Benjamin Franklin’s legacy is profoundly meaningful. Franklin embodied curiosity, public service, and the belief that knowledge should benefit society. I hope our work continues in that spirit—nourishing the next generation of scientists and engineers while advancing solutions to environmental challenges that impact communities worldwide. I owe this award to my students, mentors, collaborators and family members whose creativity and support helped me and inspired me along the way.
—PEDRO J.J. ALVAREZ
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN COMPUTER AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE
Dedre Gentner, Ph.D.
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois
For elucidating the unique power of human thought, including its roots in the acquisition and use of language, metaphors, maps, and analogies, and for charting new ways to support and enhance these skills.
I’m deeply honored to receive the Benjamin Franklin Award for Computer and Cognitive Sciences. Benjamin Franklin is a truly inspiring figure, both for his pioneering discoveries in electricity and magnetism and for his contributions to the formation of the American democracy. I am very glad to accept this award, with thanks to my students, collaborators, and mentors.
—DEDRE GENTNER
2026 Franklin Institute Laureates
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Karen C. Seto, Ph.D.
Yale University New Haven, Connecticut
For pioneering work integrating satellite imagery, modeling methods, and social sciences to analyze the consequences of urbanization, land use, and global environmental change.
Many things that Benjamin Franklin advocated for in Philadelphia are even more relevant today: street lighting, improved sanitation, paved roads. He cared deeply about making cities more livable, and I am honored to receive this award. The research that led to this prize was made possible by my students and postdocs and their curiosity, persistence, and creativity. To each of them past and present: this is as much yours as it is mine.
—KAREN SETO
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN PHYSICS
Wendy Laurel Freedman, FRS University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois
For scientific investigations that established precision measurements of the expansion rate of the universe, and for leading efforts to make the next generation of these measurements even more precise.
Benjamin Franklin embraced curiosity, innovation, experiment and theory in science. His words and actions helped to foster a spirit of inquiry in American science that endures today. It is an honor to receive this distinction bearing his name. I gratefully acknowledge the tremendous support of family, teachers, and collaborators and students who truly share in this recognition.
—WENDY LAUREL FREEDMAN
AWARDS ENDOWMENTS
The Franklin Institute and its Committee on Science and the Arts are proud to celebrate pioneering excellence in science and technology. Since 1824, the Institute has selected individuals to receive premiums, certificates, and medals for outstanding scientific or technological accomplishments and inventions. The first award endowment was established in 1848 by Elliott Cresson, a life member of The Franklin Institute. The Benjamin Franklin Medalists’ Fund was established in 2017 by The Morel Family Foundation and provides honoraria for Benjamin Franklin Medalists and NextGen Awardees. We are deeply indebted to them and to the individuals whose generosity established the following funds that support the Benjamin Franklin Medals and the Bower Awards:
Stuart Ballantine Fund, 1946
Benjamin Franklin Medalists’ Fund, 2017
The Bower Fund, 1988
Boyden Premium Fund, 1859
Frank P. Brown Fund, 1938
Francis J. Clamer Fund, 1943
Walton Clark Fund, 1926
Bolton L. Corson Fund, 1975
George S. Crampton Fund, 1964
Elliott Cresson Fund, 1848
Delmer S. Fahrney Fund, 1975
The Franklin Fund, 1914
George R. Henderson Fund, 1924
C. Raymond Kraus Fund, 1995
Jonathan R. Lax Fund, 1997
Louis E. Levy Fund, 1923
Edward Longstreth Fund, 1890
Albert A. Michelson Fund, 1967
Howard N. Potts Fund, 1906
The Vermilye Fund, 1937
Philip H. Ward, Jr. Fund, 1965
John Price Wetherill Fund, 1925
2026 Sponsors & Donors
THE 2026 FRANKLIN INSTITUTE AWARDS CEREMONY
Awards Week Sponsors
KPMG
Marsha and Jeffrey Perelman
Associate Sponsors
Andrea W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Foundation
Cerity Partners, LLC
CFGI
The Danaher Lynch Family Foundation
Essential Utilities
Awards Patrons
Ardelyx
CitiusTech Inc.
Michael DeSimone and Susan Hughes, M.D.
The Dow Chemical Company
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
Awards Benefactors
Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects
Hallee and David Adelman
AMETEK, Inc.
Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC
Athena Global Advisors
Suchit Bachalli
Sandra K. Baldino
Fritz and Heather Bittenbender
Suzanne F. Boda
The Boeing Company
Anthony and Tara Bucci
Centri Business Consulting, LLC
Cigna
Comcast NBCUniversal
Daniel J. Keating Company
Deloitte LLP
Future Standard
Edmund and Sharon Gaffney
Raj and Kamla Gupta
Stephen and Michelle Kelly
Barbara Klock, M.D. and Salem Shuchman
Independence Blue Cross
Morel Family Foundation
Morgan Lewis
PNC Bank
RushOrderTees
Chris and Irma Fralic
Freedom Mortgage
Lisa D. Kabnick and John H. McFadden
Penn Medicine
Quaker Houghton
Joan N. Stern, Esq.
Leadership Solutions, Inc.
Liberty Coca-Cola
Ira Lubert and Pam Estadt
Marsh McLennan Agency
Marvin Samson Foundation
Thomas and Linda McCarthy
McKinsey & Co.
The Moore Family
Morgan Stanley
NJM Insurance Group
PECO
Penn Engineering
PwC
Samuel P. Mandell Foundation, Miriam Mandell, Trustee
Saul Ewing LLP
TD Bank
Thomas Jefferson University
UKG
UST
Karen Zimmer Paul, M.D., MPH and Norman M. Powell, Esq.
2024 Sponsors & Donors
Franklin Circle
Alaina Brandon and Allan Kyle
Maureen Brennan-Miller
Christine Clelland, M.D., MBA, FAAFP
Marci and Ian Comisky
Mark and Tobey Dichter
Barbara Eberlein and Jerry Wind
Educational Opportunities, LLC
Karen A. Flynn
John T. and Maureen Fries
Essent Guaranty, Inc.
Elizabeth H. Gemmill
Susan Hakkarainen
Dick and Sally Henriques
Katherine A. High, M.D.
Hollie and Jamie Holt
Jenny Hourihan and John Bailin
Laureate Circle
Rosana Anchondo-Isaack and Ed Isaack
Archer & Greiner
Baby Gear Group
Becker & Frondorf
Lawrence H. and Julie Berger
Thomas A. Caramanico
Marissa and Saj Cherian
Michael Criscuolo
Alice M. Dagit
Amanda Diesel and Jared Brimfield
The First National Bank of Elmer
James Fitzgerald
Bruce and Andrea Freundlich
Bob Gelsher
Dr. Frances Jensen and Mr. Jeffrey Berry
Eunice and David King
Molly and Ken Lawrence
Charisse R. Lillie, Esq. and Thomas McGill
Bret Logue and Samantha James
Oliver Wyman
The Philadelphia Phillies
Louise H. Reed
Andrea Anania Stewart
Lyn Wiesinger
Dr. James and Mrs. Lisa Wilson
Michael and Monica Wondrasch
Richard and Diane Woosnam
Matthew and Jennifer Zelesko
Martyn and Grete Greenacre
Eric and Lorraine Hirschberg
Elizabeth King
Seth Lehr
Sandy and David Marshall
Amanda Mucklé
Drs. Paul and Bonnie Offit
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Martin Phillips and Anmiryam Budner
F. Douglas and Lisa Raymond
Cynthia D. Rugart
Eckart Schwarz, M.D.
Stevens & Lee
2026 Committee Listings
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ARTS SPONSORS
Bradford A. Jameson, Ph.D for David R. Liu, Ph.D.
Jeremy R. Johnson, Ph.D. for Josh Alman, Ph.D.
James J. Napolitano, Ph.D. for Wendy Laurel Freedman, FRS
Nora S. Newcombe, Ph.D. for Dedre Gentner, Ph.D.
Klaus H. Theopold, Ph.D. for Geoffrey W. Coates, Ph.D.
Laura E. Toran, Ph.D. for Karen C. Seto, Ph.D.
Mark Trodden, Ph.D. for Wendy Laurel Freedman, FRS
Michael Useem, Ph.D. for David M. Rubenstein
Bridget M. Wadzuk, Ph.D. for Pedro J.J. Alvarez, Ph.D.
Wenqing Xu, Ph.D. for Pedro J.J. Alvarez, Ph.D.
BOWER AWARD FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP SELECTION COMMITTEE
Michael Useem, Ph.D., Chair
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Larry Dubinski
The Franklin Institute Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chris Fralic
Member, The Franklin Institute Board of Trustees First Round Capital Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
William W. George 2014 Bower Award for Business Leadership Harvard Business School Boston, Massachusetts
Alex Gorsky 2022 Bower Award for Business Leadership Johnson & Johnson, Retired New Brunswick, New Jersey
Rajiv L. Gupta
Rohm and Haas Company, Retired Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Johns Hopkins Gupta-Klinsky India Institute Baltimore, Maryland
Thomas J. Lynch
Chair, The Franklin Institute Board of Trustees
ADP
Roseland, New Jersey Cummins Inc. Columbus, Indiana
F. William McNabb III
Vanguard, Retired Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D.
Chair Emeritus, The Franklin Institute Board of Trustees
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., Retired Exton, Pennsylvania
Anne M. Mulcahy
2018 Bower Award for Business Leadership Xerox Corporation, Retired Norwalk, Connecticut
Indra K. Nooyi
2019 Bower Award for Business Leadership PepsiCo, Retired Purchase, New York
Lisa Su, Ph.D.
2024 Bower Award for Business Leadership AMD Austin, Texas
Darryl N. Williams, Ph.D.
The Franklin Institute Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2024 Committee Listings
Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D., Acting Chair
Chair Emeritus, Board of Trustees West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (Retired) Exton, Pennsylvania
Alessandro Aiuti, M.D. San Raffaele Hospital (IRCCS) Vita Salute San Raffaele University Milan, Italy
Mimoun Azzouz, Ph.D. University of Sheffield Sheffield, England
Christopher H. Evans, Ph.D., D.Sc. Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota
PRE-SELECTION COMMITTEE
Bradford A. Jameson, Ph.D., Chair*
Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nancy M. Bonini, Ph.D.* University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Maja Bucan, Ph.D.*
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frank A. Ferrone, Ph.D.* Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Yale E. Goldman, M.D., Ph.D.* University of California, Davis Davis, California
Salil A. Lachke, Ph.D.* University of Delaware Newark, Delaware
*Member, The Franklin Institute Committee on Science and the Arts BOWER AWARD AND PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL SELECTION COMMITTEE
Anne Galy, Ph.D. Inserm DR Corbeil-Essonnes, France
Tippi C. MacKenzie, M.D. University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine San Francisco, California
David J. Waxman, Ph.D.
Boston University Boston, Massachusetts
Diane E. Merry, Ph.D.*
Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kiran Musunuru, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.L., M.R.A.
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Benjamin Prosser, Ph.D.
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Daniel J. Rader, M.D.
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Award selection committees are independent and unaffiliated with event committees and fundraising initiatives. Sponsorships are sought only after the laureates have been selected. All lists as of April 6, 2026.
2026 Committee Listings
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ARTS
Executive Committee
Judith A. Todd, Ph.D. Chair
Peter S. Petraitis, Ph.D.
Vice Chair and Membership Chair
Fauzia Ahmad, Ph.D. Planning Chair
Maria Iavarone, Ph.D. Immediate Past Chair
Active Members by Primary Subcommittee
CHEMISTRY
Roger A. Grey, Ph.D., Chair
Sharon Rozovsky, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Robert M. Garbaccio, Ph.D.
Marsha I. Lester, Ph.D.
Spiridoula Matsika, Ph.D.
Christopher B. Murray, Ph.D.
Allen W. Nicholson, Ph.D.
Klaus H. Theopold, Ph.D.
Dirk Trauner, Ph.D.
CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
C. Nataraj, Ph.D., Chair
Richard R. Laverty, Ph.D., Vice Chair
John L. Bassani, Ph.D.
Gerard F. Jones, Ph.D.
Vijay Kumar, Ph.D.
Judith A. Todd, Ph.D.
Bridget M. Wadzuk, Ph.D.
Wenqing Xu, Ph.D.
COMPUTER AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE
Mitchell P. Marcus, Ph.D., Chair
Camillo J. Taylor, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Martha Farah, Ph.D.
Helene Intraub, Ph.D.
Jeremy R. Johnson, Ph.D.
Chandra Kambhamettu, Ph.D.
Barbara C. Malt, Ph.D.
Nora S. Newcombe, Ph.D.
Charles Yang, Ph.D.
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
David Velinsky, Ph.D., Chair
Peter S. Petraitis, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Donald C. Barber, Ph.D.
Douglas J. Jerolmack, Ph.D.
Kenneth P. Kodama, Ph.D.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Afshin S. Daryoush, Ph.D., Chair
Fauzia Ahmad, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Nidhal Carla Bouaynaya, Ph.D.
Minjie Chen, Ph.D.
Ahmad Hoorfar, Ph.D.
Robert W. Sanders, Ph.D.
Laura E. Toran, Ph.D.
Rodrigo Vargas, Ph.D.
Jessica M. Warren, Ph.D.
John F. Wehmiller, Ph.D.
Bahram Nabet, Ph.D.
Laleh Najafizadeh, Ph.D.
Roy H. Olsson, Ph.D.
Grant E. Pitel, Ph.D.
Jan Van der Spiegel, Ph.D.
2024 Committee Listings
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ARTS (CONTINUED)
LIFE SCIENCE
Bradford A. Jameson, Ph.D., Chair
Maja Bucan, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Nancy M. Bonini, Ph.D.
Frank A. Ferrone, Ph.D.
Yale Goldman, M.D., Ph.D.
PHYSICS
James J. Napolitano, Ph.D., Chair
Peter J. Collings, Ph.D.
Martha Constantinou, Ph.D.
Larry Gladney, Ph.D.
Maria Iavarone, Ph.D.
EMERITI MEMBERS
Kenneth Abend, Ph.D.
Beth Adelson, Ph.D.
R. Barnett Adler, Ph.D., P.E.
Aline Akselrad, Ph.D.
Jim Shih-Jiun Chen, Ph.D.
Stephen M. Copley, Ph.D.
CONSULTING MEMBERS
Jane Clifford, Ph.D.
Hai-Lung Dai, Ph.D.
Peter A. Lewin, Ph.D.
Maria Lopez de Murphy, Ph.D., P.E., FACI
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Larry Dubinski
Thomas J. Lynch
Janice Taylor Gordon, Ph.D.
Pamela J. Green, Ph.D.
Salil A. Lachke, Ph.D.
Diane Merry, Ph.D.
Karen L. Masters, Ph.D.
Gene Mele, Ph.D.
Krzysztof Szalewicz, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Mark Trodden, Ph.D.
Arjun Yodh, Ph.D.
Henry M. Halpern
Stuart Pittel, Ph.D.
Gino C. Segrè, Ph.D.
Donald H. Silberberg, M.D.
Edward M. Sion, Ph.D.
Brian J. Sullivan, Ph.D.
James J. Moskowitz
Arye Rosen, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Dario Salvucci, Ph.D.
Paul A. Offit, M.D.
Darryl N. Williams, Ph.D.
Lists as of April 6, 2026
2024 Committee Listings
2026 Committee Listings
AWARDS CORPORATE COMMITTEE
David Greed, Chair KPMG
Mimi Drake, Vice Chair Cerity Partners, LLC
Steven Asplundh Asplundh Tree Expert LLC
Suchit Bachalli Unilog, Inc.
Jeewat Bijlani Quaker Houghton
Renee B. Booth, Ph.D. Leadership Solutions, Inc.
James F. Dever, Jr. Bank of America
Michael Forman Future Standard
Chris Fralic First Round Capital
Chris Franklin Essential Utilities
Dixieanne James Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
Lisa D. Kabnick Retired, Troutman Pepper
Jami McKeon Morgan Lewis
Robert S. McMenamin Bank of America
Joe Meterchick PNC Bank
Bob Moore Crossbeam
Arlen Shenkman UKG
Michael Vennera Independence Blue Cross
AWARDS HOST COMMITTEE
Stephen and Michelle Kelly, Co-Chairs
Sandra K. Baldino
Christine and Wade Berrettini
Heather and Fritz Bittenbender
Maureen Brennan-Miller
Amanda M. Bruno
Anthony and Tara Bucci
Ann E. Calvert
Christine Clelland, M.D., MBA, FAAFP
Marci and Ian Comisky
Alice M. Dagit
Michael DeSimone and Susan Hughes, M.D.
James F. Dever and Lynn G. Dever, M.D.
Barbara Eberlein and Jerry Wind
Jennifer and Chris Franklin
Andrea and Bruce Freundlich
Ed and Sharon Gaffney
Grete and Martyn Greenacre
Mimi T. Greenly
Jacqui and David Griffith
Thanuja Hamilton, M.D. and Nicholas Perugino
Linda Hauptfuhrer
Sally and Dick Henriques
Hollie and Jamie Holt
Jenny Hourihan and John Bailin
Barbara Klock, M.D. and Salem Shuchman
Jackie and Eric Kraeutler
Molly and Ken Lawrence
Charisse R. Lillie and Thomas McGill
Bret Logue
Amy MacIntyre, M.D. and Bryan MacIntyre
Sandy and David Marshall
Thomas and Linda McCarthy
Marie McCormick, Ph.D. and Patrick McCormick
Leanne M. and Rob McMenamin
Karen F. Minyard
Amanda B. Mucklé
Denise and John Philipp
Cynthia D. Rugart
Eric Rugart
Eckart W. Schwarz, M.D.
Melissa and Tom Trala
Brandt Welker
Lyn Wiesinger
Monica and Michael Wondrasch
Lisa and Paul Yakulis
Karen Zimmer Paul, M.D., MPH
2025 Partners & Sponsors
EVENT
PARTNERS
Affairs to be Remembered
Black Tie Entertainment Group
Brilliant Graphics
IMS Technology Services
Hangups by Sandy
SYMPOSIUM PARTNERS
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Drexel University
Gemma Biotherapeutics
National Organization for Rare Diseases
Temple University
University of Delaware
University of Pennsylvania
Center for Particle Cosmology
Savaria Photography LLC
Seravezza Events
SP+ A Metropolis Company
Thorne Media
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Penn Memory Center
Perelman School of Medicine
Villanova University
College of Engineering
Villanova Center for Human-Environmental Systems
Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems
LAUREATE PROFILE VIDEOS
PRODUCED BY
Thorne Media, LLC
PRODUCERS
Steve Thorne
Stephanie Thorne
WRITERS
Steve Thorne
DIRECTOR
Steve Thorne
EDITOR / MOTION GRAPHICS
John Rockovich
Johnny Nolan
3D MODELING AND ANIMATION
Inna Leonov-Kenny
Jesse Kinnamon
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Lucas Cardino
Maximum Collins
Jesse Cornaglia
Jack Haston
Owen Paiva
Vitaliy Potapov
Monty Robinson
John Rockovich
Robert Macias
Taras Nebesnyy
Karen Rodriguez
Lorenzo Vidali
Franklin Institute Leadership
Thomas J. Lynch Chair, Board of Trustees
Hallee Adelman
Suchit Bachalli
Sandra K. Baldino
Suzanne Boda
Renee B. Booth, Ph.D.
Lynn Breen
Maureen Brennan-Miller
Anthony Bucci
Tom Caramanico
Marissa Cherian
Peter K. Classen
Michael Corrigan
Mark Dichter
A. Christian DiMarco
Julia Dranoff
Karen A. Flynn
Chris Fralic
Christopher Franklin
Edmund P. Gaffney
David Greed
Joshua S. Gross
Sam M.V. Hamilton, III
Alexandra Kim Hay
Richard Henriques
Chairs Emeriti
Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D.
Marsha R. Perelman
Ex-Officio Members
Larry Dubinski President and CEO
William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D.
Mike Innocenzo
Frances E. Jensen, M.D., FACP
Stephen E. Kelly
Obra Kernodle IV
Barbara A. Klock, M.D.
Charisse R. Lillie, Esq.
Miriam G. Mandell
Chris McIsaac
Robert S. McMenamin
Mike Middleman
Robert J. Moore
Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D.
Michael J. Nemeroff
Paul Offit, M.D.
F. Douglas Raymond
Joan N. Stern, Esq.
Andrea Stewart
James M. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D.
Ian Wright
Harold L. Yoh III
Matt Zelesko
Karen Zimmer Paul, M.D., MPH
James A. Unruh
The Honorable Josh Shapiro Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Honorable Cherelle L. Parker Mayor, City of Philadelphia Representative: Debora Carrera Ed.D. Chief Education Officer
The Honorable Kenyatta Johnson President, Philadelphia City Council
Franklin Institute Senior Staff
Larry Dubinski President and CEO
Darryl Williams, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President of Science, Education, and Human Resources
Abby Bysshe Chief Experience and Strategy Officer
Keith Doughty Vice President of Finance
The Honorable Nina Ahmad, Ph.D. Councilmember-At-Large, Philadelphia City Council
Judith A. Todd, Ph.D. Chair, Committee on Science and the Arts
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D. Superintendent, The School District of Philadelphia
Mark Harmon Vice President of Operations
Katie Lavin Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Christopher Rizzo Vice President of Business Operations
Becky Sassi Vice President of External Affairs