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