With a $1 million gift from Hal and Carol Kohn and the Kohn Charitable Trust, the Ford School will establish the Kohn Collaborative Prize for Social Policy Impact to honor and elevate individuals and organizations that make significant contributions to equity and inclusion across the United States.
The new prize is part of and will complement the Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy, a Ford School hub that catalyzes interdisciplinary research on policy that promotes social equity and inclusion for all U.S. residents.
The Social Policy Impact Prize will be awarded approximately every two years, likely beginning in 2028. A special faculty committee, appointed by the dean and inclusive of three Kohn Professors, will be responsible for selecting the recipients. These awardees, be they individuals or tax-exempt organizations, will be celebrated at a public event.
Expressing her gratitude, Ford School Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes highlighted the importance of the Kohns' contributions: “I am incredibly grateful for Hal and Carol Kohn’s support and their commitment to shedding light on work that makes the U.S. a more just and peaceful country. I look forward to welcoming the awardees to Ann Arbor, and having them engage with our community.”
The announcement follows the appointment of two new Kohn Professors: Pamela Herd named the Carol Kakalec Kohn Professor of Social Policy, and Christina Weiland, named the Karl and Martha Kohn Professor of Social Policy.
About the Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy
Since 2018, Hal and Carol Kohn and the Kohn Charitable Trust have committed $18 million to the Ford School to establish the Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy, a hub that will catalyze interdisciplinary research and policy impact to promote social equity and inclusion for all U.S. residents. The Collaborative consists of three pillars: Kohn Professors, Kohn Scholars, and policy impact.