Simpson College has announced that Nikole Hannah-Jones will receive the George Washington Carver medal for the 2025-26 year. Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize winner and creator of the 1619 Project, and is a native of Waterloo, Iowa whose groundbreaking work has made her one of the nation’s most influential voices on racial equity, civil rights and Black American history. Her work has shaped national conversations around democracy, education, and the impact of slavery in the United States. In addition to her work at the New York Times, she founded the Center for Journalism & Democracy, serves as the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University and has received multiple honorary doctorates.

The Carver Medal honors individuals whose achievements embody the legacy of Carver, including commitments to curiosity, courage, service and advancing humanity.