William & Mary announces 2026 Alumni Medallion recipients

Excellence

The 2026 Alumni Medallions will be bestowed at a ceremony during Charter Day Weekend on Feb. 7, 2026.

The following originally appeared in the winter 2026 issue of the W&M Alumni Magazine. - Ed.

The highest and most prestigious award given by the Alumni Association, the Alumni Medallion recognizes outstanding alumni in three distinct categories: dedication to and support for Willam & Mary, exemplary accomplishments in their professional lives and leadership in civic engagement in their communities, states or nations.

The 2026 Alumni Medallions will be bestowed at a ceremony during Charter Day Weekend on Feb. 7, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Sadler Center. A recording of the ceremony and videos featuring the recipients will be available below after the ceremony.

Elizabeth Cabell Jennings '85, P '17, Leanne Dorman Kurland '75, P '05, Devin I. Murphy '82, P '10, P '14 and Stuart "Stu" D. Spirn '67, J.D. '70 live lives of purpose, service and connection, rooted in W&M's values and a deep commitment to giving back.

Elizabeth Cabell Jennings '85, P '17

(Photo by Alfred Herczeg P '23)

Elizabeth Cabell Jennings guides and strengthens organizations so they can better serve their communities. With a steady hand and a clear sense of purpose, she advances philanthropy, education and civic leadership across Virginia and beyond.

A Richmond native, Elizabeth transferred to William & Mary from Yale University and earned her economics degree in just two and a half years, while also participating in Phi Mu and W&M Lacrosse. She then built a distinguished career in investment management. After nearly three decades at Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, where she rose to director of high-net-worth and regional institutional management, she pivoted toward her passion: serving the nonprofit sector as a leader of an OCIO specialty practice. She now advises educational and charitable organizations on governance, policy and investment strategy as a partner at ClearView Fiduciary Alliance. "It's a natural alignment of my vocation and avocation," she says, one that unites her expertise with her calling to strengthen mission-driven organizations.

Elizabeth joined the W&M Foundation Board in 2009, serving on the Investment Committee and the 1693 Partners Fund after it was established in 2020, helping guide the university's endowment through periods of challenge as well as growth and transformation. Her strategic thinking and investment expertise have also shaped her longstanding leadership of the Robert G. Cabell, III and Maude Morgan Cabell Foundation, a private family foundation that supports educational and cultural institutions across the Commonwealth. A champion of women's philanthropy at William & Mary, she became a founding member of the Society of 1918. Her daughter MacNair Jennings '17 followed in her footsteps to attend W&M.

Elizabeth's civic and community leadership spans decades of service on boards including St. Catherine's School, Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia, the Virginia Theological Seminary, the Richmond Symphony and Hollywood Cemetery. Grounded by what she calls her "organizing philosophy of life," Jennings believes that those with means and capability "have an obligation to step into society and share that in one way or another."

Through her professional acumen, wisdom and dedication, Elizabeth has helped ensure that the institutions she serves - including William & Mary - continue to thrive for generations to come.

"Her expertise, integrity and trust-based approach to business have earned her the respect of her peers and clients. Elizabeth doesn't just show up - she jumps in and leads, offering her wisdom generously and without pretense."

Janet McNulty Osborn '85

Leanne Dorman Kurland '75, P '05

(Photo by Alfred Herczeg P '23)

For Leanne Dorman Kurland, life's greatest joys and most meaningful commitments can be traced to three constants: family, William & Mary and friends. Together, they form the foundation of her story of steadfast devotion to the Alma Mater of the Nation that has spanned more than half a century.

Leanne's journey at William & Mary began with her father, Lee Dorman '45, P '68, P '75, G '05 whose quiet pride in and generous support of the university inspired her to follow in his footsteps. "While he never pressured me, I cannot imagine my life had I not chosen William Mary," she says.

Her older sister, Lois Dorman Smith '68, and her son, Lee Kurland '05, continued the family tradition, while her husband, Alex Kurland HON '19, earned honorary alumni status for his decades of shared support and engagement.

Over the years, Leanne's service to William & Mary has touched nearly every corner of campus life. She served as a trustee of the William & Mary Foundation, chair of the Giving Societies and as co-chair of multiple class reunions. She is currently a member of the Muscarelle Museum of Art Foundation Board, a longtime class reporter and a Charter member of the Society of 1918. Together with her family, she has helped strengthen the university through generous philanthropic support - from scholarships and professorships to capital projects such as the Alumni House, Wren Building, Kaplan Arena and the Mackesy Sports Performance Center.

Equally defining are the deep friendships that grew from her undergraduate days, especially among her Pi Beta Phi "posse." That sisterhood - 15 women bound by decades of shared life, laughter and love - has remained her anchor. "Had I not run across Richmond Road to join Pi Phi on that Spring '72 Bid Day, I truly doubt I would have found my lifelong connection to William & Mary," she says.

Beyond the university, Leanne's service has extended to civic and charitable organizations, including the Chicago region's Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic and Travelers and Immigrants Aid Society, and numerous political, education and health initiatives in Virginia and Illinois. Professionally, Leanne brought her sharp organizational skills, financial acumen and work ethic to her varied career. She worked in oncogenic viral science research, hospital surgical suite product development and health club management.

Reflecting on her decades of multifaceted involvement in her alma mater, she says, "One of the things I value most about William & Mary is how it keeps people connected. It absolutely did that for me and I am forever grateful for that transformative gift."

"Leanne embodies what it means to be a William & Mary alumna: devoted, accomplished and engaged. Her record of leadership, service and generosity has left a lasting legacy on our alma mater and in the wider community."

Sue Hanna Gerdelman '76, P '07, P '13

Devin I. Murphy '82, P '10, P '14

(Photo by Alfred Herczeg P '23)

Driven, generous and grounded, Devin Murphy's leadership exemplifies what it means to be a William & Mary alumnus - achieving at the highest level while ensuring others have the chance to follow.

A history and English double major at William & Mary, Devin credits his time on campus with shaping both his intellect and his lifelong network. He met his wife, Jennifer Dow Murphy '82, P '10, P '14, in Williamsburg, beginning a family legacy now spanning generations of alumni, including Jennie's mother Jane Ottaway Dow '55, P '82, G '10, G '14. Two of their daughters, Eliza Chang '10 and Emilie Murphy '14, graduated from William & Mary, as did their son-in-law Jake Chang '09 - part of a family tree that now includes more than a dozen alumni.

Devin's professional career has spanned four decades at the highest levels of global finance. After early roles at Procter & Gamble and Morgan Stanley, he became global head of real estate investment banking at Deutsche Bank before returning to Morgan Stanley as vice chairman. In 2013, he joined Phillips Edison & Company, where as president he helped grow the firm from $700 million to $8 billion in enterprise value, ultimately leading its successful public offering in 2021. Today, he serves on multiple public company boards and continues advising major real estate, venture and technology firms worldwide.

A scholarship recipient at his college preparatory school, Deerfield Academy, Devin's education was made possible by philanthropy - an experience that continues to shape his values. In addition to his longstanding engagement with and investment in Deerfield Academy, he and his family are generous supporters of William & Mary. He and his family established the Murphy Family Scholarship for students with financial need and the Murphy Family Faculty Fellowship to help William & Mary recruit and retain exceptional professors. They also support the Ottaway Track Scholarship for track student-athletes in honor of Jennie's uncle John P. Ottaway Jr. '57, P '84. "Financial resources should never be the barrier to educational opportunity," Devin says.

Beyond philanthropy, Devin has given generously of his time and counsel: chairing the For the Bold New York regional campaign, serving on the William & Mary Foundation Board, mentoring young professionals through industry networks and even helping illuminate the Empire State Building in green and gold to honor his alma mater.

"Devin's exuberance for life, his family, his profession and this university is unparalleled. With that energy, his incredible good humor and healthy skepticism, he has not only touched and improved the lives of too many to count, but he also has set an example for those who can only aspire to have had nearly as much of a positive impact on our community."

David N. Kelley '81

Stuart "Stu" D. Spirn '67, J.D. '70

(Photo by Alfred Herczeg P '23)

For more than six decades, Stu Spirn has been a constant force for good in Williamsburg - a lawyer, mentor, coach and friend whose life has remained intertwined with the alma mater that helped shape it.

Stu earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from William & Mary, where he wrote for The Flat Hat, worked at the Virginia Gazette and played varsity soccer. His ties to W&M Athletics have endured ever since. A lifelong friend of coach Al Albert '69, M.Ed. '71, P '03, Stu became the first chair of the men's soccer alumni fundraising program nearly 50 years ago - a role that sparked decades of alumni engagement and generous support for student-athletes. In the early 1980s, he also organized and coached the men's volleyball club teams at W&M, which were USA Volleyball Regional Champions. He serves on the Olde Guarde Council, on reunion committees and as a class ambassador, helping strengthen community among generations of graduates. For his service to the W&M Alumni Association, he was awarded the Alumni Service Award in 2004.

After law school, Stu joined the U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps, where he was stationed in Okinawa during the U.S. handover of the island to Japan. At just 26, he negotiated the legal and utility framework for the successful transfer. Returning home, he established a respected legal practice in Williamsburg, specializing in estate planning, real estate and small business law. Through his firm, Stu has mentored countless undergraduates and law students through internships and shadowing experiences. He was named a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation in 2024 for his community and civic contributions.

Beyond campus, Stu's service to the community is steadfast. As founder and president of the Williamsburg Soccer Club - now the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club - he has shaped local athletics for 50 years, creating opportunities for thousands of youth players. He has also chaired the Williamsburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority, led the Williamsburg Hospice Board and Kiwanis Foundation and continued his volunteer leadership through the Williamsburg Soccer Foundation.

Reflecting on his life of service, Stu says William & Mary has always been his constant - "a place that nourished me when I needed it most." He has returned that gift many times over, helping his alma mater and community thrive with the integrity, humor and generosity that have defined his life.

"The ripples that emanate from Stu's service to the university, to his community and to his profession have and will continue to touch the lives of thousands - particularly the lives of children and young adults most in need of opportunities to seize and of positive examples to follow. For a long time, Stu has provided both, bringing honor to William & Mary and its alumni."

Donn T. Wonnell '69

Jacob A. Miller and Claire De Lisle, University Marketing

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