The CAFC Academic Freedom Prize

The CAFC Academic Freedom Prize recognizes academics, students, and teachers who have shown extraordinary courage in defending unorthodox or disfavored intellectual views.

To honor the recipients of the inaugural prize, we will host a day-long conference at the Yale Club of Manhattan on Saturday, September 13, 2025.

Attendance is free and open to CAFC members and other interested participants. RSVP is required. Please RSVP by email Johnston.Sydney@columbia.edu and indicate whether you wish to attend (1) the conference, (2) lunch and/or (3) cocktail hour. See here for additional conference details.

Recipients of the 2025 Prize


Dorian Abbot

Samuel J. Abrams

Erika Christakis

Nicholas Christakis

Alice Dreger

Lisa Durden

Roland Fryer

Jeffrey L. Goldhagen

Carole Hooven 

Timothy L. Jackson

Allan Josephson

Joshua Katz 

Jason J. Kilborn

Martin Kulldorff

Steven E. Koonin

Tabia Lee

Cary Nelson

Erika López Prater

Spiro Pantazatos

Dinah PoKempner

Anne Protopappas

Jonathan Rieder

Paul Rossi

Jodi Shaw

Alex Shieh

Allison Stanger

Brent Stockwell

Kimberly Terrell

Rebecca Tuvel

Norman Wang

Aaron J. Werner

Nicholas H. Wolfinger