Tulane named finalist for $100,000 innovation award

Tulane University has been named one of three finalists for the inaugural Excellence in Innovation Award, a $100,000 honor bestowed by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Tulane was chosen as a finalist for the award based on the impact of its Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking. Established in 2014, the center brings Tulane faculty, students and researchers together to work collaboratively on practical solutions to real-life problems in the environment, education, heath care and more.

The finalists, selected by a jury of emeritus presidents and provosts, were chosen from a pool of six semifinalists representing multifaceted projects at institutions across the nation. Each institution was assessed on the project’s ability to achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes to create systemic large-scale change.

“We are very pleased to be named as a finalist in this program,” said Kenneth Schwartz, director of the Taylor Center and dean of the Tulane School of Architecture. “Tulane has focused on innovation for a long time, with considerable momentum developing through a number of specific initiatives emanating from the center.”

Tulane joins Arizona State University and California State University at Fullerton in competing for a $100,000 prize for achievement in finding powerful answers to important local, regional, national or global challenges. The winner will be announced Monday, May 16.

“The quality of applications for the inaugural Excellence in Innovation Award presented the jurors a true challenge, each portfolio offering evidence of the creative, sustainable innovations being developed regularly on campuses from coast to coast,” said Phi Kappa Phi Executive Director Mary Todd.

The other three semifinalists were The Evergreen State College, James Madison University and The New School.