Grants & Awards 2025 Graduate Leadership Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of Penn’s 2025 graduate student leadership awards!  Each year, the University honors student leaders who are graduating from Penn with two awards: President & Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life and the Dr. Andy Binns Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life. 

This year seven graduating students are being recognized for their service and lasting contributions to graduate student life at Penn:  

Meruyert Bizhanova (MSEd, GSE);  Jaydee Edwards (PhD, Earth & Environmental Sciences, SAS); VanJessica Gladney (PhD, History, SAS);  Chloe D. Ricks-Martinez (PhD, Political Science, SAS); Cassandra Vu (PhD, Chemistry, SAS);  Joyce Boyi Zhang (MArch, Design); and Ziqi Zhou (MSSP, SP2)

Each of these honorees has volunteered their time to improve life at Penn for their fellow grad students, and our campus is a better place for their efforts.  Read more about these students' contributions and the awards they received below. 

President & Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life  

This award is presented to students who have initiated lasting new developments that have enhanced graduate and professional student life at Penn. This year, the following student is recognized with this award:  

• Chloe D. Ricks-Martinez, PhD in Political Science, SAS
  In recognition of extensive service and leadership to implement new funding mechanisms to support graduate affinity groups, as well as for demonstrated leadership and advocacy at the school and university levels to increase access, belonging, and support for the graduate community.
   

Dr. Andy Binns Impact Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life  

This award is presented to graduate or professional students, upon their graduation from Penn, who have significantly impacted graduate and professional student life through service involvement in student life initiatives or organizations. Six students received the Andy Binns Award this year: 
 

• Meruyert Bizhanova, Master of Science in Education (GSE)
  for extensive service and leadership through roles in GAPSA and GSE Student Government, as week as ongoing service and advocacy for international students through roles in ISAB and with ISSS.
   
• Jaydee Edwards, PhD in Earth & Environmental Sciences (SAS)
  for extensive service and leadership to the graduate community through roles in GAPSA and SASGov, including continued engagement outside of formal leadership roles.
   
• VanJessica Gladney, PhD in History (SAS)
  for outstanding leadership and service to the Fontaine Coordinating Committee, including during periods of institutional uncertainty, as well as foundational contributions to the Penn in Slavery Project.
   
• Cassandra Vu, PhD in Chemistry (SAS)
  for service and leadership in advocating for women in STEM and science outreach through leadership roles in Chemistry and engagement activities in the broader community.
   
• Joyce Boyi Zhang, Master in Architecture (Design)
  for leadership in helping to stabilize and streamline operations following a series of challenging leadership transitions within GAPSA.
   
• Ziqi Zhou, Master of Science in Social Policy (SP2)
  for leadership and exceptional service to GAPSA in helping to manage financial planning processes through a period of leadership and policy transitions impacting graduate student organization budgets.