Heritage Award

2025 Award Recipients

David Bernstein, A&S ’57, Trustee Emeritus
David Bernstein has shown a lifelong dedication to the University, its students, and its mission through leadership, philanthropy, and sustained involvement. His commitment to Hopkins has profoundly impacted the institution. Bernstein’s bond with Johns Hopkins was first forged through his membership in the Phi Sigma Delta fraternity and deepened into a lasting partnership that shaped both his personal and professional life. Bernstein, an entrepreneurial leader, built Duty Free International into a global powerhouse, and through his success, has supported the University with scholarships, building projects, and contributions to the lacrosse team. As Trustee Emeritus of both Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine, Bernstein, through his philanthropy, has had a lasting impact, including the creation of endowed professorships and an annual lecture series. Bernstein’s leadership has helped shape the University’s future, through the creation of the Bernstein-Offit Beach at the Bloomberg Center and the establishment of distinguished professorships in finance and political science. His continued involvement in Johns Hopkins Medicine underscores his commitment to advancing the institution’s global impact.

Benjamin Cirka, Bus ’06
Ben Cirka has been an engaged alumnus of the Carey Business School since graduating in 2006. He joined the Dean’s Advisory Council in 2019 and the and the Real Estate and Infrastructure Board in 2021. He has been a valuable member to both boards helping speak to classes about his work, offering to share real world data for courses, and connecting staff with his network whenever he can. Ben has been very involved in healthcare real estate, working to secure financing and investing in over one billion of total project financing that has provided neighborhood redevelopment, historic building preservation, affordable housing, and healthcare services throughout the United States. He has been especially passionate about bringing healthcare services to impoverished communities.  He is looking forward to connecting this passion with the goal of CBS to become a top 5 school for the Business of Health. Ben is a wonderful example of an alumnus getting involved and giving back, even with a busy work and home life. He genuinely wants to see Carey and JHU succeed and continue to grow.

Mary Ann Dickson, A&S '97
Mary Ann Dickson has always embraced the power of her voice, shaped by her upbringing in a family of lawyers. Her journey began at Johns Hopkins, where she excelled as a two-sport athlete, ultimately earning the title of National Division III Defensive Player of the Year in women’s lacrosse. In 2010, she was inducted into the Johns Hopkins Athletics Hall of Fame as a two-sport athlete. After graduating with a degree in political science, Dickson launched a successful legal career, beginning in private practice and rising through the ranks at prominent financial institutions. Currently a managing director at Bank of America, she leads a global team focused on enhancing client experiences in banking. As the outgoing president of the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association and a current trustee, Dickson aims to connect alumni across various disciplines to foster collaboration and innovation. Her dedication to the university is evident, and she is committed to inspiring pride and engagement among fellow Blue Jays.

Lynn Laverty Elsenhans, Engr Advisory Board
Lynn Laverty Elsenhans has enjoyed a successful career in the oil and energy sector. She spent nearly 30 years at Royal Dutch Shell Company, serving as President from 2003 to 2008. Additionally, she held the position of Chairman and CEO of Sunoco from 2008 to 2012. In 2009, Lynn was recognized as one of Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women.” She brings her influence and expertise to the Whiting School, serving as a trusted advisor to Dean Schlesinger and as a member of the Whiting School Advisory Board. Given that energy and the environment are key priorities for Dean Schlesinger and the Whiting School, Lynn’s ability to provide guidance in these areas is particularly significant. Lynn and Dean Schlesinger discussed the new Ralph O’Connor Sustainable Energy Institute, and Lynn kindly reviewed the vision document, offering valuable perspectives. Lynn also cares deeply about our students. She has come to campus to give lectures to students and community members, including the prestigious Sydney and Mitzi Blumenthal lecture. Additionally, she supports students through mentorship and her generous donations to undergraduate financial aid. She contributes to two scholarships: The Martha A. Laverty Scholarship in honor of her mother, and the Albert G. Laverty Scholarship in honor of her father. Furthermore, she delivered the keynote address at the Whiting School Master’s Recognition Ceremony in 2010. Lynn is currently assisting Dean Schlesinger with the search for the new Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations. Understanding the power of philanthropy, she aims to ensure that the next WSE DAR leader will contribute to the school’s success in the upcoming campaign and beyond.

John Kocjan, SAIS ’78
John Kocjan is a retired senior partner in Deloitte’s Global Financial Services Consulting Practice, having held various positions at Deloitte, including the head of both the US and Global practices. Kocjan brings over forty years of experience in consulting and bank management, beginning his career in Citibank’s international group in Asia, and later serving as President and CEO of St. Louis Bank. Before joining Deloitte, he was a partner at McKinsey & Company. Kocjan has advised clients on developing and executing sustainable strategies through organizational effectiveness, improved performance, and operational transformation. He has been involved in numerous merger integrations for major financial institutions and has led critical programs for top organizations in the US, Japan, and Europe. Additionally, he serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC, where he teaches a graduate course in Business Strategies for Global Financial Institutions. Kocjan has written and spoken about key issues impacting the financial services industry. He holds an MBA (with distinction) from the Wharton School, an MAIS (with distinction) from the School of Advanced International Studies, and a BA (cum laude) from Fordham University.

Helaine Lerner, Friend and Sydney Lerner (posthumous), Honorary Doctoral Degree
Sidney (Sid) and Helaine Lerner have provided transformational support of public health across the globe and at the Bloomberg School of Public Health for more than three decades. Sparked by their professional expertise and success in communications and advertising, they made their first gift in the mid-1990’s to launch the Center for A Livable Future, the world’s first academic center to investigate the interconnections among animal welfare, factory farming, and climate change, and their combined impact on population health and the environment. The Lerners subsequently partnered with the Center to create the Meatless Monday campaign, which encourages the public to one day a week, cut out meat for the health of people and the planet. The campaign quickly grew into a global movement promoted in schools, restaurants, hospitals, and communities in over 40 countries. In the past 20 years, the adoption of plant-based diets has surged, especially among younger generations, with 27 percent of Generation Z and Millennials now eating all or mostly plant-based food. Through their continued support of the Center for a Livable Future, along with investment in the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Helaine and Sid have dedicated themselves to finding innovative solutions for humane, highly accurate alternatives to animal testing of medical and consumer products, as well as protecting human and planetary health from the devastating impact of climate change and the industrial food system. They have also championed public health advocacy, establishing the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy at the School in 2016, and the Deans Sommer and Klug Professorship of the Practice in Public Health Advocacy in 2018. This Centers work harnesses the Lerners’ passion for public health advocacy through partnerships, teaching, and practice that inspire action on some of our greatest public health challenges. They provide information hubs, action guides and professional development videos and programming, designed to educate, empower, and expand the impact of public health professionals at the School and beyond. Sid received an honorary doctoral degree from the University in 2019. “Sid pushed people to move from words to action,” said former Dean Al Sommer, MD. Sid likes new ideas, but unlike most of us, he will do something about his ideas. Helaine remains a close friend and supporter of the School. 

Ellen MacKenzie, BSPH ’75, ’79, Dean Emeritus, Faculty
Ellen J. MacKenzie’s steady rise from student to Dean of the Bloomberg School is marked by extraordinary accomplishments as a researcher, teacher, and true pioneer and commanding leader in policy and practice of the treatment of trauma. From conducting studies that made far-reaching improvements to trauma care to inspiring leadership of the Bloomberg School through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has made enduring contributions to the Johns Hopkins University and to the field of public health. Dean MacKenzie discovered her true passion when she began working with the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, which employs evidence-based methods to keep people safer, and translates that evidence into policy and practice. Throughout her career, she pursued research focuses on the impact of health services and policies on the short-and long-term consequences of traumatic injury, making major contributions to the evaluation of trauma systems and rehabilitation services. Her research has advanced the knowledge of the economic and social impact of injuries and our understanding of how personal and environmental factors influence recovery and return to work. In 2009, she became the founding director of the Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium (METRC), which aims to develop guidelines for providing optimal care for both service members and civilians who experienced major extremity trauma. As of January 2025, METRC, which his anchored at the Bloomberg School, has now collaborated with over 80 trauma centers and engaged nearly 25,000 patients in close to three dozen studies. Dean MacKenzie served as the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 1996-2000, then Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management from 2005 to 2016. In 2017, she was named a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and became the first woman Dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health. As dean, she spearheaded the development and implementation of a five-year strategic plan, focusing the School’s attention and directing its work on the power of education, science, partnerships, people, and advocacy. When COVID-19 took hold, the Bloomberg School moved quickly to share insights of our experts and launch innovative responses to reduce its risks to the public while also making an immediate and unprecedented pivot to online learning. She also established and expanded centers and initiatives that focus on neglected areas critical to improving public health, including lyme and tickborne diseases, hearing, indigenous health, gun violence, global mental health, planetary health, child sexual abuse prevention, and gender equity, among others. During her leadership 2017-2024, the School experienced a 50% growth in applications, a 20% increase in enrollment, and a 54% growth in non-tenure track faculty. In fact, one-third of Bloomberg School alumni today graduated under Dean MacKenzie. Dean MacKenzie has devoted her career to public health and has proven herself time and again to be a responsive and innovative leader in research, education, and public health policy and practice. She has led the #1 School of Public Health with enthusiasm and deep commitment its people.

Michael Pryzby, Engr ’09
Mike Pryzby is one of the first people who comes to mind when thinking about engaged volunteers at Johns Hopkins. Mike graduated from the Whiting School’s Engineering for Professionals Program in 2009 with a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Actively engaged with both the Whiting School and central Alumni Relations Office for many years, Mike increased his engagement when he advocated for and successfully formed the Aerospace Affinity group over 10 years ago. Since then, his engagement with the school continued to increase, joining the Alumni Council in 2017. Mike regularly participated in meetings, led discussions, and eventually chaired the student grants committee. In 2024, he joined the Hopkins Engineering Alumni Leadership Committee and continues to advise the Whiting School alumni relations program. He also recently joined the Alumni Council Champions group following his Alumni Council term end. Mike is also a strong advocate for the school through his professional network. He is well respected in the space engineering community and has over 30+ years’ experience building satellites. He actively looks for opportunities for partnerships with NASA Goddard, including bringing alumni working for NASA Goddard to campus, to attend aerospace networking events, to mentor students, etc.; and helping to make connections for students to find internships and jobs at NASA. Mike also uses his corporate connections as well as his individual expertise to support Mechanical Engineering Design Projects. His current company, AKA Aerospace, has sponsored projects in the past and Mike continues to donate his time as an advisor to many of the projects. He has a very strong commitment to connecting current students with alumni. He has arranged informational panel discussions expressly for current students to excite them about the range of possibilities open to them with their JHU engineering degree. These events have been well-attended and well-received. Mike also mentors several students each year, meeting with them regularly while on campus and continuing to guide them as they transition into the professional work. Mike has mentored nearly 100 current Engineering students, if not more. Mike attends nearly every networking event hosted by the Whiting School and rarely misses a Career Night, Speed Networking Night or Mock Interview Night. He also is great advocate for students in our Engineering for Professionals (EP) Part-time program, speaking as a panelist at the annual EP Connect to Campus event.

Alison Page Smith, Nurs ’93
Alison Smith served as a member of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Advisory Board from 2014 to 2024. During that time, she was a trusted advisor to Dean Davidson and Dean Szanton. Alison has provided invaluable guidance on key initiatives at the School of Nursing, including the development of Neighborhood Nursing, the Institute for Policy Solutions, and launching the first cohort to complete all clinicals in community settings. Her thoughtful advisement has been instrumental in shaping the future of nursing and connecting resources to sustain the Neighborhood Nursing program. Alison has served as a trusted advisor to Dean Sarah Szanton and Executive Vice Dean Robert Atkins, helping to refine the transition to competency-based education. Alison has also contributed to the strategic communications efforts by being part of the team that named the new INside OUTside track. Following her tenure on the board, Alison joined the Education to Practice Dean’s Working Group where she contributes critical feedback and advice on School initiatives like competency-based education and innovation in nursing education. Not only does Alison provide strategic guidance to JHSON leadership, she actively encourages her peers to engage and support the school. Alison serves in a jointly held position with the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association as Program Director for the AHA-AMA Initiative to Control Blood Pressure. She has 25 years of experience in the health care industry, ranging from the bedside to the boardroom. For the last decade, she has worked as a vice president of Strategic Initiatives and a consultant to C-Change, a national non-for-profit, focused on research, practice, and policy issues in cancer. Prior to C-Change, she worked for 15 years in hospitals in clinical, leadership, and consulting roles.