Princeton Celebrates Distinguished Alumni with Top Awards
Princeton University has announced that it will honor two prominent alumni, Kevin Gover and Terence Tao, with its prestigious annual awards on Alumni Day, scheduled for February 21, 2026. Gover, a member of the Class of 1978 and currently serving as the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution, will receive the Woodrow Wilson Award. Tao, a graduate of the Class of 1996 and a celebrated mathematician, will be honored with the James Madison Medal.
The Woodrow Wilson Award recognizes an undergraduate alumna or alumnus whose professional journey aligns with Wilson’s vision of service, articulated in his 1896 speech, “Princeton in the Nation’s Service.” Woodrow Wilson, a Princeton alumnus and former U.S. president, emphasized the importance of duty and commitment to the greater good. In contrast, the James Madison Medal, established by the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni (APGA), celebrates a distinguished career in graduate education and public service, named after the fourth President of the United States and considered Princeton’s first graduate student.
Kevin Gover’s Contributions to Native American Advocacy
Gover has held his current position at the Smithsonian since 2021, where he oversees a variety of cultural institutions and initiatives, including the National Collections Program and Smithsonian Exhibits. Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber commended Gover’s impact, stating, “Through his extraordinary work as a lawyer, a scholar, a high-ranking government official, and a leader of the Smithsonian museums, Kevin Gover has helped to build a more inclusive America.” Gover’s leadership is especially significant as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
Born in Oklahoma to civil rights activists, Gover graduated from Princeton with a degree in history before earning his law degree from the University of New Mexico. In 1986, he founded the largest Native American-owned law firm in the United States, representing tribes across multiple states. His notable government service began in 1997 when he was appointed Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, a role in which he championed the rebuilding of Indian schools and the expansion of police forces serving tribal communities.
Gover’s tenure has been marked by significant initiatives, including the establishment of the National Native American Veterans Memorial in 2020. He expressed his vision for the museum, stating, “I believe that the museum will redefine who Native Americans were and are and help us dispel a number of the myths, stereotypes and inaccuracies.”
Terence Tao: A Prodigy in Mathematics
Terence Tao, recognized as one of the leading mathematicians of his generation, currently holds the James and Carol Collins Chair in the College of Letters and Sciences at UCLA. He has been awarded the Fields Medal in 2006 and the MacArthur Fellowship in 2007 for his groundbreaking contributions to various fields of mathematics, including number theory and harmonic analysis.
Eisgruber praised Tao for his unparalleled intellect and collaborative spirit, noting, “Terence Tao is one of the most singular thinkers in mathematics.” Tao’s early achievements were remarkable; he was scoring high marks in mathematics by the age of nine and published his first book at just 15. A Fulbright fellow at Princeton, he completed his Ph.D. at the age of 20, eventually attaining tenure at UCLA by 24.
His research has practical implications, particularly in the area of compressed sensing, which has transformed fields such as signal processing and medical imaging. During his tenure at UCLA, Tao has helped develop algorithms that significantly enhance the speed of MRI scans, demonstrating the real-world impact of theoretical mathematics.
Tao’s advocacy for academia became particularly apparent during his service on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology from 2020 to 2024. Following a suspension of $584 million in National Science Foundation grants to UCLA, which was later reinstated, he became an outspoken proponent of the critical relationship between government and academic institutions.
The awards ceremony will take place in Richardson Auditorium as part of the 111th Alumni Day celebrations, which will also recognize student winners of the Jacobus Fellowship and the Pyne Honor Prize. The event will include an Alumni Association luncheon at Jadwin Gymnasium, a Service of Remembrance at Princeton Chapel, and the kickoff of the 200th anniversary of the Princeton Alumni Association, marking a significant moment for the university community.
