Each year, the Carnegie Corporation honors naturalized U.S. citizens from across the world who have strengthened American society and democracy
The Carnegie Corporation of New York recently unveiled its 2025 Great Immigrants, Great Americans list, celebrating 20 individuals who have made outstanding contributions across a spectrum of fields. This year’s announcement also marks a special milestone: the 20th anniversary of the Great Immigrants initiative, honoring two decades of recognizing the exceptional impact naturalized citizens have had on American society and democracy.
Honorees for 2025 include public health advocate Sandra Leisa Lindsay, business leader Michele Kang, tech entrepreneur Tope Awotona, Nobel Prize laureate Moungi Bawendi, and composer Tania León.
“For 20 years, our Great Immigrants public awareness initiative has been a reminder that many of the most influential figures in our country have been distinguished naturalized citizens, like our founder Andrew Carnegie, born in Scotland,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York and a naturalized U.S. citizen herself. “The U.S. is a nation of immigrants and our ongoing support of nonpartisan organizations that help establish legal pathways for citizenship continues to enrich the very fabric of American life. We applaud this year’s 20th class and the hundreds of ‘Great Immigrants, Great Americans’ before them.”
The 2025 honorees were born in 16 different countries and are recognized leaders in academia, arts, business, journalism, medicine, philanthropy, and STEM.
Since 2006, the foundation has honored more than 750 exemplary immigrants from nearly 120 nations.
Click here to see the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s full list of 2025 Great Immigrants, Great Americans honorees.