2023 Heritage Awards

Paula Boggs, A&S ’81, Trustee Emerita
Paula Boggs, Esq., has been an active dedicated volunteer and donor throughout her tenure as an alumna. She is a University Trustee Emeritus, an honorary member of the Krieger Advisory Board, a member of the Peabody Advisory Board, and she co-chairs the Johns Hopkins Legacy Society. She is also an active member of the Society of Black Alumni and the Women in Business affinity group. Her generous philanthropic contributions include the Boggs Faculty Recruitment Fund and the endowed Nathaniel Boggs, Jr. Memorial Fellowship, established in memory of her late father, which is awarded annually to an underrepresented ethnic minority graduate student. As of 2022, there have been 16 named Boggs Fellows. In 2009, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumna Award, and she is now being nominated for her many generous philanthropic contributions to Krieger School and JHU, as well as her continued engagement as an active volunteer and member of the JHU alumni community.

Natalie F. Bush, Nurs Advisory Board
Natalie is currently the chair of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Advisory Board, and has been a member of the Board since 2014. She has supported and led the School of Nursing’s most critical priorities, in time, talent, and treasure, including the completion of the recent building expansion and the launch of a new fund to support junior faculty and student research. She represents nursing leadership through her engagement and advisory capacity, bridging knowledge of the profession with a business savvy. Natalie has also been involved across the Johns Hopkins University, as a member of the Hopkins Parents Council from 2011-2015, as well as a previous Leadership Fellow. Natalie earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing at West Virginia University School of Nursing. Upon graduation, she moved to Australia, where she established the first women’s counseling program in her region of the Northern Territory. The program provided free services to clients, with a focus on female health issues. Bush also worked for the Manhattan Beach, California, School District earlier in her career. In addition to her role at JHSON, Natalie is involved in several nursing advisory boards including the Inova Fairfax Hospital Foundation Board and Nursing Council and the West Virginia University Foundation Board and WVU School of Nursing Advisory Board. She also serves as a Trustee at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia, where she chairs the Health & Wellness Committee. Importantly, she has dedicated significant time to advising the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing through a number of leadership transitions and the development of the strategic plan. She has impacted the institution through her active leadership and compassionate partnership.

Alton Cleveland, Engr ‘72
After a successful 20 year career at Bechtel Corporation, Alton "Buddy" Cleveland co-founded the software company, Jacobus Technology.  Jacobus was eventually acquired by Bentley Systems where Buddy joined as a Senior Vice President until his retirement in 2013.  Buddy helped to establish a strong relationship between Bentley and Hopkins, which led Bentley to provide financial support to renovate the department of Civil and Systems Engineering’s (CaSE) senior design lab and outfit the lab. Buddy has been a committed volunteer and advisor to the school for many years. His volunteer effort ramped up in 2006, when he joined the CaSE Advisory Board, a committee that he chaired for eight years, and continues to be involved with as an active member. He regularly provides guidance to CaSE faculty and staff and served as an alumni representative for the department during the last ABET accreditation review.  In the fall of 2016, Buddy served as a member of the JHAA Alumni Council, where he helped advocate for the Engineering school. Since 2020, Buddy has increased his engagement with the school and visits frequently to advise the Dean and CaSE Department Head.  Buddy and his wife, Sandy, are also dedicated supporters of the department and School, having endowed the Alton and Sandra Cleveland Professorship.

Andrea Gielen, SPH ’79, ‘89
Andrea Gielen, ScD ’89, ScM ’79 is a champion for the health and safety of women and children and a global leader in the injury and violence prevention fields. Her work focuses on programs to prevent domestic violence and childhood injury related to the home, prescription pain medications, and motor vehicles. Dr. Gielen is also a dedicated philanthropist and mentor, keen to support the next generation of Johns Hopkins University injury and violence prevention researchers and practitioners. As director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy from 2005 until 2020, Dr. Gielen led a team of researchers who have demonstrated vital impacts in prevention, treatment, and outcomes across the injury spectrum. She was instrumental in creating the hospital-based Johns Hopkins Children's Safety Center, which offers free safety education and low-cost safety products for families to help prevent a wide range of childhood injuries. To expand the program into the community, Gielen and colleagues worked with the Baltimore City Fire Department to develop a Mobile Safety Center. These safety center models have been replicated nationally and internationally, positively impacting the health and safety of children across the globe. Earlier in her career as a health educator in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Dr. Gielen and her collaborators created Maryland's Project KISS (Kids in Safety Seats). Working in partnership with pediatricians, law enforcement and community organizations, the program created new educational resources, developed the first car seat loaner programs in the state, and established coalitions that successfully advocated for passage of Maryland's first child passenger safety law.

Godelieve Lowet, SAIS ’83, ‘84
Lieve Lowet is one of the most engaged alumni of SAIS Europe; In 2003 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of her class, she played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Bologna Class of 1983 initiative. This endowed fellowship ensures a yearly Class of 1983 LEAD (Leadership in Emerging & Advancing Democracies) fellowship. Since 2004, 19 students have benefitted from the Class of 1983 Fellowship. In April 2021, the class leaders launched their new campaign: LEAD to One Million by Reunion 40 (in 2023). This is an unprecedented goal for a single class effort: an endowment of one million will generate an annual full tuition fellowship. Lieve Lowet is spearheading this ambitious goal, by signing more than 40 appeals to the class and personally reaching out to all her classmates. Her efforts are inspiring for other class leaders. Beyond fundraising initiatives, Lieve Lowet has been volunteering in various ways with SAIS Europe for 20 years, including continuously helping in recruiting top students and in exploring the possibility of a new cooperative agreement with Leuven University. Her loyal commitment to SAIS is outstanding.

Daniel Nyhan, Med (PGF) ’85, Med Faculty
In pursuit of the mission of the Johns Hopkins Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Daniel Nyhan, M.B.B.Ch., M.D., has been a true champion, leader, and mentor who has served in multiple leadership, operations, and administration capacities for the past 40 years. Over 1,000 residents and fellows have benefitted from his teaching, experience, and mentorship. Countless individuals have been grateful for Dr. Nyhan’s insight, words of wisdom, and lessons about human behavior and civility. Dr. Nyhan enhanced wellness at Johns Hopkins long before the term wellness was even added to our vocabulary or agenda. His passion for teaching is unequaled, and his enthusiasm for sharing knowledge is contagious. His common-sense approach to difficult decision making is so effective, that doing the next right thing becomes intuitive. He has great appreciation for all, no matter where they fall on the academic or workplace hierarchy. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Nyhan serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia and is a reviewer for the Anesthesiology journal. He was a member of the Johns Hopkins Faculty Senate, and a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Association of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, and he currently chairs the advisory committee to the Maryland Physician Health Program.

Katherine Pinkard, Bus ‘14
Katherine is the epitome of a Blue Jay, and her dedication to the Hopkins community runs deep. She is smart, thoughtful, and commits to her passions. Katherine currently serves as chair of the Carey Business School Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board (DAAB), and is a member of the Carey Business School Real Estate Advisory Board. Katherine is the fourth generation of her family to receive the Heritage Award and proudly carries on the legacy of her great-grandfather, grandmother, and uncle. She is also the fourth generation of her family to take an active role in the Homewood Museum and served as chair of the Homewood Museum Advisory Board. Katherine is the fourth generation in her family to receive the Heritage Award and proudly carries on the legacy of her great-grandfather, grandmother, and uncle. Some of her other previous volunteer roles include the Campaign Cabinet and Leadership Fellows. No matter which volunteer role she is involved, Katherine makes an impact. On the DAAB, she has fostered an environment of belonging, and is the first to champion new ideas that align with school priorities. She has been a thoughtful advisor to university leadership and has incredible skill to rally fellow alumni and Hopkins supporters to her cause. Along with her leadership positions, Katherine has been an advocate for Beet Week, mentor to students, thoughtful panelist, and strategic thinker. Her many contributions began as a student and continue today. She is unrelenting in her passion for Johns Hopkins University and never turns down an opportunity to share the good work of the university, find opportunities for alumni to engage, connect, and support, and inspire current and prospective students to join the Blue Jay family.

George Sykes, Engr ’91
George Sykes is the managing partner and founder of GS Gamma Advisors, a fixed income hedge fund launched with seed capital from Guggenheim Partners in 2004. He began his journey into the finance world in 1991, where he began his career working as a Senior Vice President at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette before helping co-found Links Securities. Links Security eventually renamed itself Guggenheim Securities, where he has remained since, providing leadership and support to his firm. Since graduating, Mr. Sykes has been a steadfast volunteer to the school, and he continues to grow into new volunteer roles. From reunion committees, advisory boards, and fundraising committee, to working with New York Engineering Alumni, George has helped build relationships with fellow classmates and alumni. Mr. Sykes sits on the Whiting School Advisory Board where he plays an integral part in shaping the school’s direction. Mr. Sykes regularly visits campus and has rarely missed an Advisory Board meeting. Through his involvement with the advisory board, Mr. Sykes has made connections for WSE leadership to industry and advised the Whiting School’s Marketing and Communications efforts. He started as a committee member to the Whiting School’s Rising to the Challenge Campaign Committee and later became co-chair where he served for five years and was helpful in identifying alumni who could help make gifts to the University, helping the school raise almost $300M. Following the campaign, Mr. Sykes also served on a Trustee ad hoc committee, and went to visit other institutions to learn about their campaign efforts to help Hopkins in its own fundraising efforts. Mr. Sykes cares about students from the admissions process to helping seniors find jobs. He is interested in ensuring that the students/young alumni can utilize the alumni network to help open doors for their career. For the last fifteen years, he has served as an ambassador at Guggenheim, always trying to help Hopkins Students find a career at his company. Finally, from 2014-2016, Mr. Sykes hosted the annual Summer Finance event in New York City, which brings together students interning in NYC for the summer and the local finance alumni community. Since 2016, he has assisted with the planning of future iterations of the event and has been a regular fixture at all Whiting School events in the area.