Professor Lloyd Kramer recently received the University’s Thomas Jefferson Award. The award, according to the faculty governance website, “is presented annually to ‘that member of the academic community who through personal influence and performance of duty in teaching, writing, and scholarship has best exemplified the ideals and objectives of Thomas Jefferson,’ whose complex legacy includes the values of democracy, public service, and the pursuit of knowledge.”
At the presentation Professor Kramer gave his thoughts about the honor of the award as well as its possible meanings in today’s context. His speech draws on historical texts to understand Jefferson‘s complicated legacy and also inspire our current efforts at UNC and beyond. You can read his speech here.