The American University (AU) Alumni Association will honor alumna Jan Du Plain, renowned for her impactful career in public relations, with its most prestigious honor, the Alumni Recognition Award, on April 25, 2024. The ceremony will be held at Washington College of Law’s Claudio Grossman Hall, where several other distinguished alumni will also be recognized.
The Alumni Recognition Award celebrates alumni who actively inspire global communities by committing to serving others or philanthropic endeavors. The AU Alumni Association has a network of over 150,000 active members.
Jan Du Plain, a 1966 graduate of American University’s School of Public Affairs, exemplifies the university’s values of service and leadership. Her passion for connecting Washington, D.C. to the world led her to found Du Plain Global Enterprises, a successful public relations firm. As President and CEO, she has consistently delivered innovative campaigns that bridge divides and create understanding across communities.
The other honorees across different categories include Mong-Yong Chung, Kogod/MBA ’91, Chairman of Hyundai Sungwoo Holdings (Global Alumni Leader Award); the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee, SOC/BA ’73, WCL/JD ’76, WCL/Hon. LLD ’03, Retired Judge from the US District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia (Neil Kerwin Alumni Achievement Award); Rob Johnson, SPA/BS ’81, Retired Assistant General Counsel at ExxonMobil (Alumni Eagle Award); Deon Jones, SPA/BA ’14, Performance Artist (Rising Star Award); and Yamillet Payano, CAS/BS ’18, CEO and Cofounder of Sign-Speak (Rising Star Award).
American University, located in Washington, DC, stands as a student-centered research institution well-known for its top-ranked schools and colleges, notable faculty, and significant impact on global change. Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst founded AU, which the US Congress chartered in 1893, positioning it as a pioneering force in higher education.
On the same day, Jan Du Plain will be doubly honored, first receiving the Torch Bearer Award from The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and later in the evening, she will be honored with the AU Alumni Association Award. It’s a day of double recognition for the remarkable Jan.
