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
2024 Prize Winners
Pre-K-12 Education
Director Emeritus, Gordon Institute for Advanced Study at the Teachers College, Columbia University
Lifelong Learning
Emeritus Professor of Economics, American University
Fellow, The Urban Institute
Co-Founder, Apprenticeships for America
Fellow, The Urban Institute
Co-Founder, Apprenticeships for America
Recent Winner Video Bios
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.
Winner Video Bio
Barbara Oakley, 2023 McGraw Prize winner for Lifelong Learning
Dr. Barbara Oakley has made learning easier for millions of people from all walks of life by revealing how insights from neuroscience can improve our understanding of challenging concepts in math and engineering—and countless other fields. More than 5 million people worldwide have taken her free massive open online courses (MOOCs), such as “Learning How to Learn,” one of the most popular MOOCs of all time.
Winner Video Bio
David Wilson, 2023 McGraw Prize winner for Higher Education
Dr. David Wilson is a leader among university presidents nationwide and a vigorous advocate for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As president of Morgan State University, he has overseen a dramatic increase in graduation rates by revamping the university’s advising model and adopting data-driven initiatives to identify students at risk of dropping out. He is also recognized for engaging with adult learners in the Baltimore community and granting college credit for their prior learning experiences.
Winner Video Bio
Debra Duardo, 2023 McGraw Prize winner for Pre-K–12 Education
Dr. Debra Duardo has made the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) the premier hub of innovation in California’s efforts to transform education through a whole-child, whole-family approach. As the superintendent of the nation’s most populous and diverse regional education agency, she has led the way in integrating resources and activities to improve student outcomes, individual and collective well-being, and organizational excellence.
