2026 Awards Reception Celebrates LGS Achievements

Dean Arriola and LGS alumni at the LGS awards luncheon

Laney Graduate School (LGS) honored excellence across its community at the 2026 Awards Luncheon, held April 8 at the Carlos Museum. The annual celebration recognizes outstanding students, faculty, and staff whose achievements reflect the strength, dedication, and collaborative spirit of graduate education at Emory University. 

“Each year, these awards remind us of the extraordinary commitment and talent within our community,” said Dean Kimberly Jacob Arriola, vice provost for graduate affairs and dean of Laney Graduate School. “We are grateful to those who took the time to recognize their colleagues through nominations, and we are proud to celebrate this year’s nominees and recipients for their meaningful contributions to Laney and to the broader scholarly community.” 

The following individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Laney Graduate School community. The complete list of 2026 award recipients is included below. 

2026 LGS Award Winners:  

Faculty Awards 

Inclusive Excellence:   

  • Negar Fani, Neuroscience 

Outstanding Director of Graduate Studies/Program Director Award:   

  • Matthew A. Reyna, Computer Science and Informatics 

Student Awards 

Inclusive Excellence:  

  • Jessica Alvarez Starr, History  
  • Irene Abena Darkwaah, Master’s in Development Practice 
  • Joslyn Gardner, French 
  • Tiara Tillis, Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology 

 Outstanding Graduate Student Award for Teaching and Learning  

  • Jack Cagney, Global Health and Development 
  • George Dangas, Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology 
  • Daniel Westbrook Jr., Philosophy 

Outstanding Master’s Student Award:   

  • Sameen Ahmed, Development Practice  

Outstanding Doctoral Student:   

  • Irina Bergenfeld, Global Health and Development  
  • Mingzhe Hu, Computer Science and Informatics 
  • Em Nordling, English   

Alumni Awards

Early Career Alumni Award:  

  • Nasim Katebi, Computer Science and Bioinformatics 

Distinguished Alumni Award:   

  • Romesh R. Subramanian, Molecular Pharmacology 

Staff Awards 

Outstanding Program Administrator Award:   

  • Holley JC Butkovich, Cancer Biology 

Outstanding LGS Staff Award:   

  • From the Office of the Dean, Ulf Nilson (retired), Associate Dean, Academic Operations and Director, Admissions and Recruitment  

Congratulations to all the winners!