2016 Suzan-Lori Parks, Playwright
2015 Tony Kushner, Playwright
2014 Anna Deavere Smith, Actor and Playwright
2013 Mira Nair, Celebrated Filmmaker
2011 Richard Bushman, Gouverneur Morris Professor of History emeritus at Columbia University
2010 Judith Jamison, Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
2009 Aaron David Miller, Woodrow Wilson Foundation
2008 Sir Ken Robinson, Internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity
2007 Rose Weitz, Professor, Arizona State University Dept. of Women's Studies
2006 Joseph Horowitz, Artistic consultant
2005 Stephen Macedo, Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and director of the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University
2004 Lily Yeh, Artist, founder and executive director of The Village
2003 Frederick Wiseman, Documentary Filmmaker, Cambridge, Massaschusetts
2002 Lawrence Buell, John P. Marquand Professor, and Chair, Department of English, Harvard University
2000 Klaus G. Roy, Composer and Annotator, Cleveland Symphony
1999 Norman Jewison, Film Director, Los Angeles
1998 William J. Cronon, Professor of History, Geography, and Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1997 Peter Sellars, Theatre, Opera and Television Director, L.A.
1996 John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and International Affairs, Georgetown University, and Director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, History and International Affairs, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
1995 Bobbie McFerrin, Musician, Vocalist, Conductor, New York City
1994 Martha C. Nussbaum, Professor of Philosophy and Classics, Brown
1993 Barbara Kruger, Graphic Artist, New York
1992 Milton Babbitt, William Shubael Conant Professor emeritus, Princeton
1991 Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities (Yale), and Berg Professor of English (New York University)
1990 Janice Radway, Professor of Literature, Duke University
1989 Alwin Nikolais, Artistic Director, Niklais Dance Theater
1988 Eugene N. Borza, Scholar of Antiquity, Pennsylvania State University
1987 Alexander Goehr, Department of Music, University of Cambridge (collaborative appearance with the Utah Symphony)
1986 Michael Fried, Professor of Humanities and the History of Art, Johns Hopkins University
1985 Robert Hughes, Art Editor for Time Magazine
1984 David P. Gardner, President of the University of California System