Current Recipients

Make a Difference

Case Western Reserve's Board of Trustees has delegated to the university faculty, through elected leadership, certain powers and responsibilities concerning educational, research and scholarly activities.

Pamela B. Davis, MD, PhD

Pam Davis

Transformative—that describes Pamela Davis’ impact as a leader, educator, researcher and mentor, not only at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine but across the university and Northeast Ohio. Dr. Davis is the Arline H. and Curtis F. Garvin Research Professor and former dean of the School of Medicine (2007-20).  

During her tenure as the dean of the School of Medicine, the school ranked 11th nationally for producing successful academic researchers, 20th in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, and was a consistent top-25 national research institution according to U.S. News & World Report. 

Read more about Pam Davis.


Jonathan Karn, PhD

Jonathan Karn

Eradicating or finding a functional cure for HIV has been a primary focus of Jonathan Karn’s career, earning him a global reputation as an HIV-cure thought leader. An internationally recognized molecular virologist, he initially built his career on conducting pioneering basic research on the study of transcriptional control in HIV. Since coming to Case Western Reserve University in 2002, he has become increasingly involved in translational research, taking advantage of the opportunity to advance HIV research to the bedside.  Dr. Karn chairs the Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology and is director of the university’s Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). 

Read more about Jonathan Karn.


Roger Quinn, PhD

Roger Quinn

When Dr. Roger Quinn, Arthur P. Armington Professor of Engineering, joined the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 37 years ago, the term “biorobotics” was unknown. Initially focused on simulation and control of space structures, Quinn was approached by former CWRU professor Randall Beer and professors of biology Hillel Chiel and Roy Ritzmann to build an insect-like robot for an innovative project. It was this project that would eventually put his name on the short list of people who pioneered the field of biorobotics. 

Read more about Roger Quinn.