The Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government is memorialized by a solid bronze medallion bearing the Senator’s likeness.
Ethics, integrity, and understanding opposing viewpoints defined the career of Paul H. Douglas, who served as U.S. Senator from Illinois from 1949-1967. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1992, the University of Illinois established the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government to extend this legacy for generations to come and to encourage future leaders to follow a similar path. Douglas’ career provides a model for public service and IGPA is proud to be the home for this award since its inception. The 2018 award was presented to former President Barack Obama. In 2019, the award was presented to Walter M. Shaub, Jr., former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no award was presented in 2020. Among other award recipients are U.S. Senators Mike Mansfield, Paul Simon, Barbara Mikulski, Richard Lugar, Carl Levin, Alan Simpson, Olympia Snowe and Richard Cohen, former Congressman and federal judge Abner Mikva, and retired U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and John Paul Stevens. The Douglas Award is made possible by donations from Ned Bandler, Jean Douglas Bandler, and Family, as well as all those who helped with the original funding and subsequent gifts from supporters of this long-running program.
The Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government is memorialized by a solid bronze medallion bearing the senator’s likeness. The award is presented annually to a person whose public actions, writings or other contributions have made a significant contribution to the practice and understanding of ethical behavior and fair play in government. The recipient may be an elected or career government official or former official, at any level of government and regardless of party, or a private citizen whose public actions or writings have made a significant contribution to the practice and understanding of ethical behavior in government. A selection committee drawn from the public and private sectors and academe selects the honoree from nominees whose careers have demonstrated or promoted respect for the highest standards of public service. Nominations for the award may be made by anyone and are sought from individuals and organizations across the United States. Past recipients include a Nobel Prize winner. The Douglas Award is made possible by donations from Ned Bandler, Jean Douglas Bandler, and Family, as well as all those who helped with the original funding and subsequent gifts from supporters of this long-running program.
Email acoope7@illinois.edu or Call (217) 333-3438.
Liz Cheney served as the U.S. representative for Wyoming’s at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023. She chaired the House Republican Conference, the third-highest position in the House Republican leadership, from 2019 to 2021, and served as the Vice Chair of the Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. She was also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, China Task Force, Natural Resources Committee, and the House Committee on Rules.
Cheney served previously at the State Department as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and in positions for USAID and the Department of State working in Poland, Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine. Cheney practiced law with White and Case and at the International Finance Corporation. A specialist in national security and foreign policy, she is the co-author, along with her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, of Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America. Cheney received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School. In 2022, Cheney, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, received the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s prestigious Profile in Courage Award, with a commendation for her “consistent and courageous voice in defense of democracy.”
Marie Yovanovitch
WALTER M. SHAUB JR.
BARACK OBAMA
BEN BERNANKE & JANET YELLEN
BARBARA MIKULSKI
JOHN LEWIS
JOHN PAUL STEVENS
OLYMPIA SNOWE
GEORGE MITCHELL
ALAN K. SIMPSON & ERSKINE BOWLES
ROBERT M. MORGENTHAU
SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR
RICHARD G. LUGAR
Carl Levin
Archived Honorees
Nominations can be submitted by sending a nomination letter to the IGPA Director. The nomination letter should include a short bio and a short explanation of why the nominee is deserving of this award. All nominations will be screened for eligibility then forwarded to the selection committee for review.
Nominations can be made online by clicking here:
Make NominationsOr submitted via email to igpa@uillinois.edu
Or sent to:
Institute of Government and Public Affairs
University of Illinois ATTN: Douglas Award Nomination Committee 1007 West Nevada Street Urbana, IL
61801
Recipients of the award may be elected or career government officials, former officials, or a private citizen whose public actions or writings have made a significant contribution to the practice and understanding of ethical behavior in government. A nominee should be a person whose career demonstrates or promotes respect for high standards of public service.
Members of this working group research ways to make Illinois’ economic and fiscal structure equitable, dynamic and sustainable.
Questions may be directed to Alyssa Cooper.
