Elizabeth A. Hadly receives the Richard W. Lyman Award

At a dinner this evening, the Stanford Alumni Association (SAA) will present the 2021 Richard W. Lyman Award to Elizabeth A. Hadly, the Paul S. and Billie Achilles Professor in Environmental Biology, for “outstanding Stanford citizenship across the university.”

Biology Professor Elizabeth A. Hadly is the recipient of the 2021 Richard W. Lyman Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding faculty member for extraordinary service to Stanford. (Image credit: L.A. Cicero)

Each year, SAA recognizes one outstanding faculty member who generously donates time to alumni, goes beyond the expectations of university appointments and embodies the association’s mission.

Over the last 15 years, Hadly has volunteered for two dozen SAA programs through regional speaker events, programs and major campus events, including Reunion Homecoming, New Student Orientation and Admit Weekend.

Hadly, who joined the Stanford faculty in 1998, is the faculty director of the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. She oversees the Hadly Lab, which explores the ecology and evolution of animals.

She has studied the impacts of environmental change for the past four decades, primarily focusing on existing species to understand the past, present and future of biodiversity. She is the co-author, with Stanford biology Professor Anthony D. Barnosky, of the 2015 book Tipping Point for Planet Earth: How Close Are We to the Edge?

Howard Wolf, AB ’80, vice president for alumni affairs at Stanford and SAA’s president, said alumni have deep interests in issues concerning sustainability and the future of the planet.

“We’re incredibly fortunate that Liz Hadly articulates the beauty of our natural world, brings forward science in an engaging manner and inspires us toward action with her contagious enthusiasm,” he said. “In particular, our Travel/Study program benefits from the detail she puts into crafting unforgettable experiences.”

Since 2009, Hadly has led several international Travel/Study trips, including excursions to Antarctica, Australia, Kenya and Mongolia, and an exploration of the Himalayan kingdoms that included a hike to a monastery in Bhutan, a visit to the former palace of the dalai lamas in Tibet and a flight-seeing tour that passed within a mile of Mount Everest.

In the citation honoring Hadly, the SAA said her commitment was especially apparent during the pandemic, when, despite carrying a heavy academic load, she led a virtual faculty webinar focused on Yellowstone and the impact of humans on the national park.

The SAA said alumni consistently rave about Hadly’s positivity, her ability to engage audiences and to share her knowledge and passion for environmental biology.