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Established in 1983 in honor of President Emeritus Richard W. Lyman, the yearly Richard W. Lyman Award recognizes one outstanding faculty member who generously donates time to alumni, goes beyond the expectations of university appointments and embodies the Stanford Alumni Association mission.
Faculty in Service to Alumni
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2023 Award Winner
Elaine Treharne
The Roberta Bowman Denning Professor of Humanities, professor of English, and professor, by courtesy, of German studies and of comparative literature.
Treharne’s research areas are British literature, comparative literature, digital humanities literature and history, and postcolonial studies. She has published widely in these areas, focusing on religious poetry and prose and manuscripts from c.600 to c.1300. She teaches core courses in British Literary History, on Text Technologies, and on Palaeography and Archival Studies. Currently, her projects focus on death and trauma, manuscripts, and the long history of writing systems. Treharne is the Director of Stanford Text Technologies, co-runs Stanford Manuscript Studies, and co-directs the Stanford Initiative on Language Inclusion and Conservation in Old and New Media (SILICON). Treharne has co-authored several volumes and books, including The Handmade Book, which was a featured exhibit at the Stanford Libraries. The exhibit brought together early manuscripts and printed volumes with more recent artists’ books to recognize the endurance of the codex and its unrivaled success as a technology in the long history of communications.The exhibition invited viewers to celebrate the form’s infinite potential to delight and inspire, much like Treharne often does when engaging with alumni. She is committed to providing a supportive and ethical environment in all her work.
Whether online, on campus, or on the road, Treharne embodies the core values of the Stanford Alumni Association and champions its mission. She holds her responsibility to the alumni community in the highest regard, always willing to step up or step in. She has been exceedingly generous in volunteering her time for nearly 10 years, speaking at Reunion Homecoming, hosting virtual events, engaging alumni clubs near and far, and leading Travel/Study trips across the globe.
From volunteering at the last minute to lead a Travel/Study trip to enthusiastically saying “yes” to speak on a topic outside of her main academic focus when alumni club leaders needed to find a speaker, Treharne’s heart and dedication to the alumni community are incredibly apparent. Alumni treasure the opportunity to learn from her and rave about her ability to share both rich historical perspectives and personal insights that evoke awe and nourish their personal growth. Staff have greatly enjoyed working with her and speak highly of her positive attitude, preparedness, and witty humor.
“Our graduates gravitate towards our alumni education offerings for a host of reasons. At the core, however, is often a desire to revisit the sheer beauty and joy of knowledge discovery. Elaine Treharne, through her fascinating Welsh background, deep academic knowledge, and expert use of artifacts, has been a truly transformational guide for our alumni for many years. And her willingness to stay engaged with legions of alumni long after they have been "in class" is nothing short of miraculous. We are beyond fortunate to have Elaine on board and celebrate this well-deserved recognition.”
— Howard Wolf, ’80, Vice President for Alumni Affairs, Stanford University, President, Stanford Alumni Association
Elaine is a dedicated faculty volunteer who enthralls alumni with her knowledge on manuscripts, archives, and literature. Stanford alumni greatly benefit from having an expert available to broaden their understanding of history, society, and culture. The Stanford Alumni Association is extremely grateful for her outstanding Stanford citizenship across the university and impact on our alumni.
Past Winners
2022 | Christopher Gardner, Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine and director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center
2021 | Elizabeth A. Hadly, Paul S. and Billie Achilles Professor of Environmental Biology, director of Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment and professor, by courtesy, of geological sciences
2019 | Michael McFaul, ’86, MA ’86, Director and senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies in Political Science, and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution
2018 | Tina Seelig, professor of the practice in management science and engineering, and faculty director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program
2017 | Abbas Milani, Hamid and Christina Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies, co-director of the Iran Democracy Project and research fellow at the Hoover Institution
2016 | James A. Fox, director of the Center for Latin American Studies, associate professor of anthropological sciences and, by courtesy, of Spanish and Portuguese
2015 | Jeffrey R. Koseff, Perry L. McCarty Director of the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford, Michael Forman University Fellow in Undergraduate Education, and William Alden Campbell and Martha Campbell Professor of Civic and Environmental Engineering
2014 | Margot Gerritsen, associate professor of energy resources engineering, director of the institute for computational and mathematical engineering, and senior associate dean in the School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences
2013 | Larry Diamond, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and professor, by courtesy, of sociology and of political science, and the Peter E. Haas Faculty Co-Director of the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford
2012 | Hank Greely, Deane F. and Kate Edelman Johnson Professor of Law
2011 | Lyman P. Van Slyke, professor emeritus of history
2010 | Al Camarillo, professor of History, Miriam and Peter Haas Centennial Professor in Public Service and special assistant to the provost for faculty diversity
2009 | Rob Dunbar, W.M. Keck Professor in the School of Earth Sciences, Victoria P. and Roger W. Sant Director of the Earth Systems Program, and senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment
2008 | Barton H. "Buzz" Thompson, Paradise Professor of Natural Resources Law and McCarty Director of the Woods Institute for the Environment
2007 | Philip Zimbardo, professor emeritus of psychology
2006 | Marsh McCall, professor of classics
2005 | Pamela Matson, dean of the School of Earth Sciences, and professor geological and environmental sciences
2004 | David Brady, Bowen H. and Janice Arthur McCoy Professor of Political Science; Morris M. Doyle Centennial Professor in Public Policy; and senior fellow at the Institute for International Studies
2003 | Harry Elam, Christiansen Professor for the Humanities and the Robert and Ruth Halperin University Fellow in Undergraduate Education
2002 | John W. Rick, associate professor
2001 | David B. Abernethy, professor emeritus of political science and director of the Center for African Studies
2000 | Nancy H. Packer, Melvin and Bill Lane Professor in the Humanities
1999 | William H. Durham, Bing Professor of Human Biology and the Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang University Fellow in Undergraduate Education
1998 | Wanda M. Corn, Robert and Ruth Halperin Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences
1997 | Albert H. Hastorf, Benjamin Scott Crocker Professor of Human Biology, professor of psychology, and, by courtesy, professor emeritus in the Graduate School of Business
1996 | Robert C. Gregg, Teresa Hihn Moore Professor in Religious Studies, emeritus
1995 | Norman M. Naimark, professor and senior fellow, by courtesy, at the Institute for International Studies
1995 | James T.S. Porterfield, (honorary) member of academic council; James Irvin Miller Professor of Finance in the Graduate School of Business, emeritus
1994 | Ernle W. D. Young, teaching professor of medicine (pulmonary and critical care)
1993 | Ronald A. Rebholz, professor emeritus of English
1992 | Barry M. Katz, consulting professor of mechanical engineering
1991 | Channing R. Robertson, Ruth G. and William K. Bowes Professor of Chemical Engineering
1990 | J. Martin Evans, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor
1989 | Diane Wood Middlebrook, professor emerita of English
1988 | David M. Kennedy, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History
1987 | Albert E. Elsen, Walter A. Haas Professor of Art History
1986 | William M. Chace, professor emeritus of English and former vice provost for academic planning and development
1985 | Ezra Solomon, Dean Witter Professor of Finance, emeritus
1984 | Herant Katchadourian, professor emeritus of human biology
1983 | James L. Adams, professor emeritus of industrial engineering and engineering management