In a special ceremony held at the White House on Saturday, Dr. Jane Goodall received the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest civilian honor in the U.S. – in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to science and decades of advocacy in global conservation.

Dr. Goodall is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI, 1977), UN Messenger of Peace, and former A.D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell (1996-2002).

In a statement on the JGI website, Dr. Goodall said, “I am deeply honored to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This recognition reflects the hope and action of so many people who inspire and motivate me every day in the firm belief that together we can and we must save the natural world for ourselves and future generations.”

Dr. Goodall was among the 19 distinguished individuals named as medal recipients by President Biden in an earlier White House press statement. Other honorees included science educator and television presenter Bill Nye ’77 (Frank H.T. Rhodes’56 Professor at Cornell, 2001-05), former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and actor and activist Michael J. Fox.

The Medal of Freedom is presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.

Full White House Press Statement (Jan. 4, 2025)