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Celebrating Achievement

CDI's 16th Annual Spring Benefit – May 6, 2026

Become a Sponsor Purchase a Ticket

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Chancellor

Nina and Jonathan Marks
Annette Nazareth and Roger Ferguson

President

Amanda Bennett and Donald Graham

Provost

Nancy and Robert Carr
Kathryn and Michael Hanley
Marshfield Associates
Melanie Nussdorf
Jane and Thad Paul
Alicia and Daniel Ritchie

Dean

Sarah and Winthrop Brown
Cristina and Aaron Cooper
Kate and Jim Garland
Debbie and Jeff Kaliel
Manisha and Roy Kapani
Maryanne Lavan
Melissa and Thomas Loughney
Kara and Joseph Petrosinelli
Michael Rankin, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Nisha and DJ Sardella

Department Chair

Melissa Welch Barker
Quan and Johnny Boatman
Carr Properties
Oliver Carr Company
Rebecca Carr Rizzo and James Rizzo

Professor

Denise and John Buchanan
Martha Ashby Carr
Amma and Henry Felix
Gihan Fernando
Susan and Allen Foster
Barbara and John Franklin
Maxine and Jeffrey Freund
Nicole Galagan
Lisette Garcia and Craig Bennett
Rachel and Peter Goulding
Evelyn and Michael Kitay
Alice and Mike Leiter
Peggy Brady Marks and Joshua Marks
Anjali and Jon Phillips
Allison Porter
Carmin Reiss and Eric Green
Elena Ritchie and Todd Sullivan
Nina Schou and Sherman Knight
Claudia de Colstoun Werebe and Roberto Werebe

Become a Sponsor, Support Education

Chancellor Sponsor: Above $20,000

President Sponsor: $20,000

  • Recognition in opening remarks
  • Full-page ad in Benefit program
  • Mention in Benefit press release
  • Recognition on social media
  • Logo/name placement on CDI website & e-newsletter
  • Invite up to 10 guests to the spring benefit
  • Invitation for 2 to attend CDI’s Scholar graduation on June 26, 2026

Provost Sponsor: $10,000

  • Recognition in opening remarks
  • 1/2-page ad in Benefit program
  • Mention in Benefit press release
  • Recognition on social media
  • Logo/name placement on CDI website & e-newsletter
  • Invite up to 8 guests to the spring benefit
  • Invitation for 2 to attend CDI’s Scholar graduation on June 26, 2026

Dean Sponsor: $5,000

  • 1/4-page ad in Benefit program
  • Mention in Benefit press release
  • Recognition on social media
  • Logo/name placement on CDI website & e-newsletter
  • Invite up to 6 guests to the spring benefit
  • Invitation for 2 to attend CDI’s Scholar graduation on June 26, 2026

Department Chair Sponsor: $3,000

  • Recognition in Benefit program
  • Mention in Benefit press release
  • Logo/name placement on CDI website & e-newsletter
  • Invite up to 4 guests

Professor Sponsor: $1,500

  • Recognition in Benefit program
  • Logo/name placement on CDI website & e-newsletter
  • Invite up to 2 guests
Become a Sponsor

Marks Medal Honoree

Each year, the Marks Medal for Academic Excellence and Career Achievement is presented to honor an individual who has used education as a transformative tool to change their circumstances and fulfill their potential.

Past award recipients include:

  • 2025 - Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, Senior Pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church

  • 2024 - Jason Wright, President of the Washington Commanders

  • 2023 - Seth Goldman, Co-Founder and CEO of Eat the Change

  • 2022 - The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation

  • 2021 - Wes Moore, New York Times Bestselling Author and former Chief Executive Officer of the Robin Hood Foundation

  • 2020 - Roger Ferguson, President and CEO of TIAA and 17th Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve 

  • 2019 - The Honorable Eric Holder, 82nd United States Attorney General

  • 2018 - Eric L. Motley, Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute and former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush

Stay tuned for an update on this year's honoree and keynote speaker!