The Thomas Jefferson Award is made annually "for distinguished service to Vanderbilt through extraordinary contributions as a member of the faculty in the councils and government of the University."

The award is presented by the Chancellor at the fall meeting of the Faculty Assembly, which officially begins each academic year. The prize carries with it an engraved pewter goblet and $2,500 cash. The recipient is named by the Chancellor on the basis of nomination by the consultative committee of the Faculty Senate. Faculty in all schools are eligible.

The Thomas Jefferson Award is endowed at several universities by the Robert Earl McConnell Foundation. It was first established at the University of Virginia in honor of that institution's founder. It has been presented at Vanderbilt since 1967.

 





1988 Elizabeth Spencer Goldman (Mathematics Education)
1989 C. Elton Hinshaw (Economics)
1990 Paul K. Conkin (History)
1991 Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey (Psychology)
1992 Robert N. Covington (Law)
1993 H. Jackson Forstman (Divinity)
1994 Molly Fritz Miller (Geology)
1995 Joseph H. Hamilton (Physics)
1996 Eugene TeSelle (Divinity)
1997 John Wikswo (Physics & Astronomy)
1998 David F. Partlett (Law)
1999 James V. Staros (Molecular Biology)
2000 Jimmie L. Franklin (History)
2001 Gary F. Jensen (Sociology)
2002 Thomas R. McCoy (Law)
2003 Howard M. Sandler (Psychology)
2004 Lee E. Limbird (Pharmacology)
2005 Douglas A. Knight (Hebrew Bible)
2006 K. Arthur Overholser (Engineering)
2007 Virginia L. Shepherd (Pathology) and Matthew Ramsey (History)