The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education recognizes innovators who unleash human potential through technology, methodology, and leadership. Since its creation, more than 100 remarkable leaders in all fields of education have been recognized and celebrated, many of whom continue to play transformative roles today.
Winners
2025 Prize Winners
Pre-K-12 Education
Co-CEOs, Imagine Worldwide
Higher Education
Distinguished Professor, Founder of the Futures Initiative, the CUNY Graduate Center, and Senior Advisor to the Chancellor, the City University of New York (CUNY)
Recent Winner Video Bios
Winner Video Bio
Rapelang Rabana and Joe Wolf, 2025 McGraw Prize in Pre-K–12 Education
Rapelang Rabana and Joe Wolf are redefining what’s possible for children who are furthest from educational opportunity. They are delivering a massively scalable, evidence-based education technology solution to the global foundational learning crisis.
Winner Video Bio
Cathy N. Davidson, 2025 McGraw Prize in Higher Education
Dr. Cathy N. Davidson has spent her career reimagining higher education for a rapidly changing world. A leading voice in digital literacy, learning science, and interdisciplinary innovation, she is recognized for translating research into action—and for helping institutions adapt to meet the diverse needs of all students.
Winner Video Bio
Frederic Bertley, 2025 McGraw Prize in Lifelong Learning
By re-envisioning how science is shared, taught, and experienced, Dr. Frederic Bertley has ignited a lifelong love of STEM learning in millions through museum education—immersive exhibits, hands-on outreach, and Emmy Award-winning media programs that extend science education far beyond museum walls.
Winner Video Bio
Dr. Robert Lerman, 2024 McGraw Prize winner for Lifelong Learning
Dr. Robert Lerman, a distinguished economist and pioneering educator, has transformed the thinking of policymakers on the need to widen routes to rewarding careers. As a professor emeritus of economics at American University, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, and co-founder of Apprenticeships for America, Dr. Lerman has been a tireless advocate for apprenticeships, an “earn, produce, and learn” approach that can compete with and complement traditional college education.
Winner Video Bio
Dr. Jody Lewen, 2024 McGraw Prize winner for Higher Education
Dr. Jody Lewen, an inspiring educator and visionary leader, has dedicated over two decades to transforming higher education in prisons. As the founder and president of Mount Tamalpais College, she has pioneered rigorous academic programs within San Quentin State Prison, offering hundreds of incarcerated individuals access to a liberal arts Associate of Arts degree, as well as intensive college preparatory programs, and student support services.
Winner Video Bio
Dr. Edmund W. Gordon, 2024 McGraw Prize winner for Pre-K-12 Education
Dr. Edmund W. Gordon, a luminary in education, has dedicated over six decades to transforming pre-K–12 education through his visionary leadership, pathbreaking scholarship, and profound commitment to promoting equity and access to quality education for all students. He has had an enduring, deep, and wide impact on education, psychology, and social science research.
