The Jefferson Scholars Foundation has announced an exciting new initiative: the Horniman Prize. This annual award will honor the legacy of Alexander B. “Alec” Horniman, a respected professor from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, who passed away late last year.
Thanks to the generosity of E. Clorisa “Clo” Phillips, who established the prize in memory of her husband, the award aims to celebrate qualities that Horniman exemplified during his 54-year tenure, such as intellectual rigor, ethical leadership, and a commitment to education.
“Alec absolutely loved teaching,” Phillips stated. “Mentoring and helping others to see what’s possible also brought him indescribable joy. Our family and I are deeply grateful for, and truly thrilled about, this opportunity to continue his legacy.”
Horniman, who was renowned for his dedication at the Darden School, retired in 2021 as the Killgallon Ohio Art Professor of Business Administration. He also served as the founding executive director of the Olsson Center for Applied Ethics.
Mike Lenox, interim dean at Darden, remarked, “Alec was an absolute legend at Darden. Across more than five decades, he helped shape the character of the school through his teaching, mentorship and pioneering work in business ethics. He helped generations of students and colleagues understand that business education is ultimately about judgment, responsibility and the human consequences of leadership. Clo’s gift is a beautiful tribute to a man who meant so much to this community, and we are profoundly grateful that the Horniman Prize will carry Alec’s legacy forward by recognizing others who invite, include and inspire.”
Beyond academia, Horniman was known for encouraging critical thinking, responsibility, and integrity. He had a unique talent for recognizing and nurturing potential in others.
“Alec was my colleague and my friend, and I loved the man,” expressed Sankaran Venkataraman, the MasterCard Professor of Business Administration and senior associate dean for faculty and research at Darden. “He was one of Darden’s master teachers, but that title only begins to capture who he was. Alec had a mesmerizing presence in the classroom, a wonderful wit and a rare gift for helping people become more fully themselves. He could take any question and elevate it into something larger, helping students think harder, reflect more deeply, and see new possibilities in themselves and others. To me, that was Alec’s genius: He did not simply teach people what to think, he helped them discover who they might become.”
The Horniman Prize, available to the entire UVA community, aligns with the Jefferson Scholars Foundation’s tradition of honoring educational excellence. Since 2010, the foundation has awarded $675,000 to over 90 faculty members who have made significant contributions to student learning and development.
Jimmy Wright, president of the foundation, commented, “We continue to invest in people whose talents and character enrich the University. Professor Horniman devoted his life to developing others, cultivating thoughtful leadership and building communities where people could flourish. We are honored that Clo chose to celebrate his legacy through the foundation, and we hope this prize will inspire and recognize those who carry forward those same values.”
Nominations for the first Horniman Prize will begin in September.
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