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Joseph American Horse

Honorary Degree

Chief Joseph “Joe” American Horse has lived an extraordinary life of service and leadership for the Oglala Lakota and Indigenous peoples in the Americas and around the world. A military veteran, war bonnet wearer and grandson of Chief American Horse, he has served in tribal leadership for nearly 50 years. His numerous leadership roles have included president and vice president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Tribal Judge, and Supreme Court Justice. He founded the Global Institute for Traditional Sciences (GIFTS) and served as director of Oglala Lakota College. Chief Joe American Horse has also worked tirelessly to support young Lakota scholars in higher education, including fostering partnerships between the University of Colorado and the Lakota Nation.​ His work helped to kickstart the Sam High Crane Memorial Endowed Fund to support the education, research and training of Native students in sciences and museum studies at ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ. His leadership and dedication to education, cultural preservation and scientific advancement have achieved meaningful gains for the academic community and Indigenous peoples.

David Chang

Honorary Degree

David Chang, a distinguished academic and visionary leader, has made significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering and higher education. At the University of Colorado Boulder, Chang served as chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering throughout the 1980s, playing a pivotal role in securing major grants, including the NSF ERC grant for the Optoelectronics Computer Center. He recruited highly research-active faculty who helped build the department’s reputation as a Tier-1 national research leader. His commitment to gender diversity among faculty was decades ahead of national trends and these faculty members have gone on to illustrious careers. From CU, he went on to national leadership roles as dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at Arizona State University and president at New York University, Brooklyn. Chang’s scholarly achievements, including numerous publications and founding successful tech startups, underscore his impact on the academic and industrial communities. His commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering diversity and improving educational systems continue to demonstrate lasting impact.

Yvonne DiStefano

University Medal

Yvonne DiStefano has dedicated over five decades to the university community. As ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ’s first lady alongside her husband, Philip DiStefano, who served as chancellor for 15 years, her active involvement in university events made her a beloved figure. Her leadership, compassion and dedication have been evident since she embarked on a career as a kindergarten and third-grade teacher. DiStefano’s impact continued to grow through her volunteer work and support for ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ students. Since 1974, she has been a tireless advocate and supporter of the School of Education, taking on numerous philanthropic and volunteer roles.​ Her advocacy for the Guardian Scholars program, which provides essential support to students who have experienced foster care, has included her hosting Thanksgiving dinners and attending graduation ceremonies, bolstering a sense of community and belonging. As a key figure in the Chancellor’s Parent Leadership Society, DiStefano has eased the transition to campus for new students and their families. Her enthusiasm for CU Athletics is evident through her support for and participation in the Buffalo Belles. DiStefano also has played a crucial role in CU fundraising campaigns and was a founding member of the Women In Support of Education (WISE) initiative.

Ashok Srivastava and Lynn Waelde

Distinguished Service Award

Since meeting as Ph.D. students at the University of Colorado Boulder, Ashok Srivastava and Lynn Waelde have built a life together while also distinguishing themselves with service and contributions to CU, to academia and to the scientific community.

Ashok Srivastava, a ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ alumnus with a doctorate in electrical engineering, has had a remarkable career in AI and data science, holding leadership roles at NASA and Verizon, and is currently senior vice president and chief data officer at Intuit. He also has served on the ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ College of Engineering’s advisory council and the CU Foundation Board of Directors, and is a current member of the CU Foundation trustees.��He serves on a committee for the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine on a Congressionally mandated study on ��. Ashok is a��, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (), and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics ().��His philanthropic support for ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ reflects his deep commitment��to students, diversity, equity,��and inclusion.

Lynn Waelde, who earned her doctorate in psychology at ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ, is a leading expert in stress disorders and mindfulness. Her work has made a significant impact on diverse health and mental health issues, including��using mindfulness to treat stress disorders, disaster recovery and veteran support. She��is a��professor emeritus at Palo Alto University and��an��adjunct clinical professor at Stanford University.��She��founded the Inner Resources Center, training over 3,000 clinicians globally.��Her philanthropic support for ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ embodies her dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for students��and demonstrates her values of caring about students, diversity, equity and inclusion.