Former Penn President Amy Gutmann received the Legend in Leadership Award on Jan. 28 at the Yale Higher Education Leadership Summit at the Yale School of Management.
A select group of university leaders and CEOs gathered at the summit to celebrate Gutmann’s award, which is granted to those who serve as leadership inspirations across various industries, sectors, and nations. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, and Former Chief Medical Advisor to the President of the United States Anthony Fauci were previously named as recipients of the award.
“President Gutmann is one of the most revered leaders in higher education today,” summit organizer Jeffrey Sonnenfeld said in an article published by the Yale School of Management. “A trailblazer who was the first in her family to graduate college, Gutmann made accessibility and affordability key priorities during her tenure at UPenn."
Gutmann was Penn’s longest serving President – from 2005 to 2022. After her tenure, Gutmann was confirmed by the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations as the next ambassador to Germany. During her time at Penn, Gutmann raised over $10 billion for the University, increasing the endowment from $4 billion to $20 billion. Her efforts led to an expansion of financial aid, innovative research, and patient-centered clinical care.
Sonnenfeld also noted Gutmann’s contributions “as a leader and scholar [who] transcends the halls of academia,” emphasizing “the impact of her scholarship on democracy and democratic pluralism … during the administrations of President Barack Obama, who nominated her to serve on a presidential commission, and President Joe Biden, who nominated her to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Germany.”
As ambassador to Germany, Gutmann helped shape Germany’s support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, especially through the financial relationship between Germany and Ukraine.
In 2024, Gutmann stepped down from her ambassador position, citing her husband’s “professional obligations” as mandating her return from Berlin. In September, Gutmann also returned to Penn to attend the dedication ceremony for Amy Gutmann Hall, Penn's center for data science and artificial intelligence.
Aside from her contributions to public service, Gutmann previously served on the board of Vanguard and the Berggruen Institute. In 2014, she began her year-long term as the chair of the Association of American Universities.
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