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Faculty in Service to Alumni
About the Award
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.
2022 Richard W. Lyman Award Winner
Christopher Gardner
The Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine and director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center.
Christopher Gardner’s research is focused on investigating the potential health benefits of various dietary components and food patterns. He has published more than 20 human nutrition intervention studies over the past 25 years. His studies have included more than 2,000 participants; he has collaborated with a diverse set of experts, from microbiologists to chefs. In recent years, his research interests have focused on two additional areas of inquiry: stealth nutrition and institutional food. This includes an examination of the connections between food and various global challenges, as well as helping institutions take a systems-level approach to achieving healthier dietary behaviors. His long-term vision in this area is to help create a world-class Stanford Food Systems Initiative and build on the idea that Stanford is uniquely positioned—geographically, culturally, and academically—to address the national and global obesity and diabetes crises that are directly related to our broken food systems.
Whether online, on campus, or on the road, Christopher Gardner embodies the core values of the Stanford Alumni Association (SAA) and champions its mission. He holds his responsibility to the alumni community in the highest regard. He has been exceedingly generous in volunteering his time to 30 SAA programs, speaking at Reunion Homecoming, virtual events, and alumni club events near and far.
Christopher is always looking forward to the next opportunity to serve alumni. Every time he travels, he reaches out to see if there is an alumni group he could support. Whether speaking in a packed room at Reunion Homecoming or to a small club event in Dallas, Christopher goes above and beyond expectations to serve alumni.
Alumni absolutely adore Christopher. His 2021 Classes Without Quizzes recording on the Stanford Alumni Association YouTube channel has amassed over 6,000 views. He garnered a record number of registrants for a recent virtual event. Alumni were captivated by his talk on determining fact from fiction in the many campaigns to influence what we eat. Over 200+ questions were submitted for the event Q&A, and Christopher patiently and enthusiastically answered as many as possible. Alumni appreciate the way he engages his audiences and shares his knowledge and passion on nutrition and health. Staff enjoy working with him as well. They speak highly of his friendliness, professionalism, and humor.
Christopher is a dedicated speaker who captivates alumni while highlighting healthy dietary behaviors and the global impact of nutrition. Stanford alumni greatly benefit from having an expert available to broaden their understanding of nutrition within a global perspective. The Stanford Alumni Association is extremely grateful for his outstanding Stanford citizenship across the university and impact on our alumni.
Past Winners
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