August 21, 2025
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, is proud to announce that Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the John P. McGovern Science & Society Award.
This prestigious award honors individuals who have made significant contributions at the intersection of science and society. Dr. Hrabowski is being recognized for his work championing initiatives in leadership development, STEM education, workforce advancement, civic engagement, and playing a pivotal role in improving science and mathematics education, with a strong focus on increasing minority participation and success in these fields.
As President Emeritus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Dr. Hrabowski is internationally recognized for his transformative leadership in higher education, particularly in advancing diversity and excellence in STEM. Through his vision and commitment, he has inspired generations of students and scholars, reshaping the landscape of STEM education and access. His impact extends well beyond academia, influencing public policy and advancing the broader dialogue on equity and innovation in research.
Dr. Hrabowski chaired the National Academies’ committee that produced the report, Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads. President Obama named him chair of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans in 2012. His widely viewed TED talk highlights the Four Pillars of College Success in Science.
Since 1984, the McGovern Award has recognized achievements by a scientist or engineer that transcends their career as a researcher. Recipients of this award represent a broad spectrum of individuals whose varied activities supported research, the communication of science, and the impact of science on society. Past recipients include Peter Hotez, Rory Cooper, Sylvia Earle, Kathryn Sullivan, and Condoleezza Rice.
The award will be presented during Sigma Xi’s 2025 International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE), where Hrabowski will serve as a keynote speaker.