Heritage Award 2014

Esta de Fossard-Nelson, SPH Faculty
Our school’s motto is ‘Protecting Health, Saving Lives – Millions at a Time.”  Esta, a self-made leader, has dedicated her career to developing, in over fifty countries around the world, entertaining and educational TV and radio programs that have helped our school achieve this goal.  The Entertainment-Education (EE) programs she developed and the teaching and training she has pursued have literally impacted around the world, millions of women, men and children; health communication professionals; and undergraduate and graduate students. Esta’s unique stature, achievement and commitment show through her Leadership in the Entertainment-Education Field.  Esta has been a leader in entertainment education programming for her 50 year career.  She has provided guidance and support to scores of projects and thousands of writers, producers and programmers interested in developing programs in more than two dozen countries that could capture the attention and hearts of the audience while inspiring social and behavioral change. She established the only Entertainment-Education course at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts & Sciences and has taught hundreds of students.  Esta ‘wrote the text books’ on how to develop entertainment-education and distance education programs that are used by program managers and writers/producers worldwide. They are the only such resources available. She has also published more than 50 other books (school text books and children’s books, including a winner of the Australian Children’s Book Award) and articles. Countless lives have been improved, and even saved, through Esta’s outstanding support in public health programs. Esta is the winner of the 2011 Everett M. Rogers Award for Achievement in Entertainment-Education.   This award is given by the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, Hollywood Health and Society to those who make a positive contribution to health and society through radio, TV and film productions. She has also appropriately established a legacy through which her expertise and commitment have passed on to the next generation of EE practitioners in the US and abroad.

Taylor A. Hanex, Peab '75, '78
Throughout her career, Taylor Hanex has continually worked toward the betterment of her alma mater. In an official capacity and as an individual donor, Taylor keeps a watchful eye over Peabody and the University as a whole. As a member of the Peabody National Advisory Council, she remains an active part of the conservatory atmosphere, advising the Director on new initiatives and looking forward to the future of the school. She has established the John J. Hanex Memorial Scholarship, an endowed fund that will continue to help young musicians for years to come. Taylor has gone above and beyond her duties as a council member by introducing new donors to Peabody, many of whom were completely unaffiliated beforehand. Many of the people she has introduced have gone on to become major donors for the school. Within the larger scope of the university, Taylor is a regular Johns Hopkins University Trustee. She is the first Peabody Conservatory alumna to do so, not only ensuring the conservatories place among the trustees, but demonstrating the power and flexibility of a degree from Peabody. Taylor’s work and dedication over the years, as demonstrated in her positions around the university, makes her an ideal candidate for the Heritage Award.

Frank L. Hurley, SPH '71
Frank L. Hurley is an alumnus of the Biostatistics Department at the School of Public Health. In addition to a distinguished career in education and industry, Dr. Hurley has authored or co-authored over 100 technical reports on epidemiologic and clinical research. These reports have included health effects of various occupational exposures as well as reports on clinical studies of drugs and devices. Dr. Hurley has presented more than 50 times to FDA Expert Advisory Panels. Beyond his esteemed career, Dr. Hurley’s dedication to the department, school, and university has been demonstrated through various leadership roles and philanthropic support. At the school, he served as a member of the Dean's Alumni Advisory Council and a member of the Health Advisory Board. He became a member of the JHU Board of Trustees and now serves as chair of the Health Advisory Board. He made his first gift in 1996 and remains steadfast in his philanthropy. Dr. Hurley’s commitment is unmatched and is exhibited by the amount of time and attention he gives to matters great and small. He goes out of his way to help in any way necessary, from talking to prospective board members and donors, to consulting on initiatives. Faculty, administrative leaders, and staff rely on Dr. Hurley for his collaborative drive, purposeful activity, and thoughtful evaluation. The department, school, and university have much to be grateful for with Dr. Hurley as a leader, advocate, and supporter.

Franklin W. Knight, A&S Faculty
As the first African-American faculty member to gain academic tenure at Johns Hopkins, Franklin W. Knight has been an incomparable presence throughout his prestigious 33 year career. A native of Jamaica, Franklin earned a B.A. with honors from the University College of the West Indies-London in 1964, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin­Madison. He joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 1973 and was appointed the Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Professor of History in 1991. He has contributed widely to scholarship in Caribbean and Latin American Studies as a faculty member in the department of History and in the Program in Latin American Studies. He served as Director of the Center for Africana Studies. Beyond his academic contributions to Johns Hopkins, Franklin served on the Sheridan Libraries Advisory Council, led tours as a Faculty Trip Lecturer for the Alumni Journeys Program, and hosted the Homewood Museum's annual Evening of Traditional Beverages. Franklin has held fellowships from many organizations including the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Ford Foundation, and the Social Science Research Council. He is the former president of The Historical Society and the Latin American Studies Association. He has contributed historical expertise to National Public Radio, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and C-Span, as well as to multiple television series. In 2001, Franklin was elected a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Letters of Bahia, Brazil and in 2006, a foreign corresponding member of Academia Dominicana de La Historia in the Dominican Republic. Over the years, Dr. Knight has made invaluable contributions to the success of Society of Black Alumni (SOBA).  One particular example is his support for SOBA’s programs by his volunteering to host the SOBA Friday evening reception held during Reunion Weekend. Dr. Knight has also been an ardent supporter of SOBA’s efforts to make Johns Hopkins a more inviting place for black students and faculty.  To this end, Dr. Knight has frequently suggested ways and opportunities for SOBA members to provide support for Hopkins’ black faculty and students, as well as the Center for Africana Studies.

Robert S. Lawrence, SPH Faculty
Robert S. Lawrence, MD is currently the Center for a Livable Future (CLF) Professor and professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Health Policy & Management, and International Health at the JHSPH.  His illustrious career includes tenures as the founding director of the Harvard Medical School Division of Primary Care (1974-91); the Chief of Medicine, Cambridge Hospital (1980-1991); Director, Health Sciences Division, Rockefeller Foundation (1991-1995); Associate Dean for Professional Education and Programs, JHSPH (1995-2006). Dr. Lawrence graduated from Harvard Medical School and trained in internal medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is a founding director of Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), a human rights advocacy organization that shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for its work to ban anti-personnel landmines. Among his many accolades and awards is the Sedgwick Award Medal for Distinguished Service in Public Health (American Public Health Association’s oldest and most prestigious award) and the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize. Since 1996, he has directed CLF, a leader in research, education, policy, and advocacy that serves as a critical resource in understanding the important relationships among food production, diet, human health and the environment.  As Director, Dr. Lawrence has established CLF as a unique interdisciplinary center within the world of academic public health that is helping build a new field of scientific and professional work – public health and food systems.  A distinct, inspirational, and visionary leader, Dr. Lawrence is also a kind spirit, and a brilliant collaborator who has served the School and the institution with inspiration, dedication, and perseverance.

Lynne G. Maxwell, Med '73
For over 40 years, Lynne G. Maxwell, M.D., has maintained a strong and lasting connection with Hopkins.  She received her medical degree from the School of Medicine in 1973, completed her residency in pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) in 1976, and subsequently a residency in anesthesiology/fellowship in obstetric anesthesiology completed in 1985.  Prior to moving to the University of Pennsylvania in 2002, she was Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at JHUSOM.  Since 2000, Dr. Maxwell has served as the Class of 1973 representative.  In her role, she fosters communication among classmates; provides leadership for reunions; helps the class achieve greater levels of participation in the annual fund; and lastly, identifies professional and personal achievements of classmates or other Johns Hopkins alumni for nomination for various awards.  During medical school, Dr. Maxwell met her late husband, Keith D. Maxwell, also a member of the Class of 1973.  Continuing the Maxwell’s legacy, their youngest son, Micah J. Maxwell, is a 2012 M.D., Ph.D. graduate from the School of Medicine.  Keith passed away in 1982, and in his honor, Dr. Maxwell founded the Keith Maxwell Memorial Fund as well as the Maxwell Family Scholarship Fund with the great contributions of her brother-in-law, Dr. R. Ryan Maxwell, Class of 1977, and her mother-in-law, Dr. Grace Rushing Maxwell, both now deceased.  Dr. Maxwell has been a Century Circle member since 2008. Dr. Maxwell is senior anesthesiologist in the Division of General Anesthesia in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as well as professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania.

Bill and Shirley Salisbury, SAIS '67, '72
For over 30 years, Bill Salisbury has served as the South Carolina Chapter President.  Throughout the years, he and his wife Shirley have consistently conducted outreach to plan and host events for the Johns Hopkins Alumni community.  Beyond annual social events, such as cruises on Lake Murray, there have been keynote speakers from faculty members, including past presidents and deans, who have travelled to South Carolina.  Their personal efforts in writing letters and making phone calls to ensure that people across the state have resulted in an alumni community that is a model of what alumni relations and volunteer leadership should be.  Shirley passed away on January 15, 2014.

Irving J. Taylor, A&S '39
Dr. Irving J. Taylor is a member of the Class of 1939 who went on to become a physician.  Dr. Taylor remembers his undergraduate years at Homewood fondly and has remained active with his alma mater over the decades. He was enthusiastic about the renovation of the iconic Gilman Hall, naming a seminar room in the Department of Near Eastern Studies, reflecting his ardent interest in affairs in the Middle East. Dr. Taylor's interests at Johns Hopkins are wide ranging and include the Peabody Institute, Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Children's Center and Eisenhower Libraries. In conjunction with several of his contemporaries, Dr. Taylor came up with the idea for an annual event for Homewood alumni who have already celebrated their 50th reunion.  This was the beginning of the Old Guard Luncheon, an annual event that has been held in each succeeding year with ever increasing attendance. At that event, as indeed at all of his reunions, Dr. Taylor leads the gentleman present in a stirring rendition of "Old Johnny Hopkins”.

James L. Winter, A&S '70
Since his graduation in 1970, James. L. Winter has been a faithful friend of Johns Hopkins, consistently investing in the Krieger School Arts and Sciences through his volunteer leadership. Jim was one of the early members of the Second Decade Society, where he chaired several committees over the course of his tenure. He was asked to serve on the Gilman Hall Renovation Planning Committee. He currently serves as Chair of the Arts and Sciences Advisory Board. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins University Board of Trustees where he has served in numerous leadership roles including service on the Executive Committee, the Campaign Executive Committee and the Buildings & Grounds Committee as well as chairmanship of Audits, Compliance & Insurance Committee. His interest at Johns Hopkins spans the Krieger School, the Eisenhower Libraries and the Center for Talented Youth.

David P. Yaffe, A&S '74
David P. Yaffe has been a volunteer leader at Johns Hopkins since his graduation in 1974. Active with his reunions, David has also served as class agent for his peers.  He was a member of the Second Decade Society, serving on its executive committee and ultimately as its National Chair.  He was also a member of the School of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, again serving on its executive committee and ultimately going on to chair the board. David was a member of the Krieger School's Washington Center Committee, working to increase academic and internship opportunities for students in Washington D.C.  David has also been a member of the Alumni Council, ably serving on various committees, including: development; policy and long range planning; community service grants; life-long learning; marketing and communications.   David's leadership is characterized by tremendous commitment, a willingness to work hard, attention to detail, ability to build consensus and a real love for Hopkins.  He currently serves as the Alumni Council's Treasurer.   David is a member of the Cerulean Society and served on the Krieger Challenge Steering Committee, its National Development Council, and the University's Rising to the Challenge Campaign Cabinet.  He is a founding and active member of the law affinity group.  He has consistently helped students find internship and employment opportunities in his own field of law. He is a parent of a member of the Class of 2001.