UVA Darden School Professor Alec Horniman Awarded Top UVA Faculty Honor

Alec Horniman, Killgallon Ohio Art Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, received the Thomas Jefferson AwardFriday afternoon during the University of Virginia‘s Fall Convocation. The award is the highest recognition given to faculty members, acknowledging those who have exemplified in character, work and influence the principles and ideals of Jefferson, and thus advanced the objectives for which he founded the University. President Teresa Sullivan recognized Horniman for excellence in service.

As founder and first executive director of Darden’s Olsson Center for Applied Ethics, Horniman has attracted to Darden a cadre of world-class scholars in business ethics. An icon in the classroom, he exudes warmth and energy and inspires his students to engage and grow.

“Over his 47 years of service, Alec has served as an inspirational mentor to countless students, executives, teachers and University leaders,” said Darden Dean Bob Bruner. “His influence and lessons in leadership, which combine insights from his field, industrial psychology, with philosophy and ethics, have benefited the entire University of Virginia community.”

Horniman said his career was not a planned journey, as he started out working for an aerospace firm. He did not intend to become a professor, but a friend challenged him to get his doctorate, which he attained from Harvard Business School shortly after joining the Darden faculty. Horniman thought he might teach for a few years, but he enjoyed it so much that he has stayed at UVA.

Melvyn P. Leffler, Edward Stettinius Professor of History at the University, received the 2014 Thomas Jefferson Award for excellence in scholarship. He specializes in U.S. foreign relations during the Cold War period, and has received several top prizes for his work. Leffler served as dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences from 1997 to 2001.

At the conclusion of Fall Convocation, Sullivan invited the University of Virginia community to enjoy the variety of events planned for Family Weekend.

This release includes information provided by Anne E. Bromley, UVA Today Associate. Image courtesy of Dan Addison, UVA Communications.