Pauline Newman, Richard L. Ottinger, and Robert D. Putnam
The National Institute of Social Sciences is honored to announce that Judge Pauline Newman for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, retired U.S. Representative Richard L. Ottinger, and Harvard University professor Robert D. Putnam will receive the Institute's Gold Honor Medals for 2016 at a private ceremony on November 15 in New York City.
Pauline Newman was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Previously, Judge Newman was Special Adviser to the United States Delegation to the Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. She served on the advisory committee to the Domestic Policy Review of Industrial Innovation (1978-79), on the State Department Advisory Committee on International Intellectual Property (1974-84), and as director, Patent, Trademark and Licensing Department, FMC Corp (1969-84). Judge Newman received a B.A. from Vassar College (1947), an M.A. from Columbia University (1948), a Ph.D. from Yale University (1952) and an LL.B. from New York University School of Law (1958).
Richard L. Ottinger is Dean Emeritus at the Pace Law School, which he joined in 1984 after serving eight terms in Congress. Initially a professor in the environmental law program (1984-94), he served as dean from 1994 to 1999. While dean he constructed a modern classroom building subsequently renamed as Richard Ottinger Hall. He brought to Pace the New York State Judicial Institute, and he founded the Pace Energy and Climate Center. As chairman of Congress's Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, he was instrumental in adopting key energy and environmental legislation. Dean Ottinger continues to advise students in national and international environmental law as well as energy efficiency and renewable energy research.
Robert D. Putnam is the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard. He has written 14 books, translated into 20 languages, including the best-selling Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community and Better Together: Restoring the American Community. His latest book, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, was published in March 2015. Professor Putnam has received numerous honors, including the Skytte Prize, the most prestigious global award in political science, and the National Humanities Medal, the nation’s highest honor for contributions to the humanities. Before coming to Harvard, he taught at the University of Michigan and served on the National Security Council staff.
The Gold Honor Medals are the Institute's highest recognition, presented annually since 1913 to distinguished Americans who have who have made the highest contribution to the improvement of society. Previous honorees include four former U.S. Presidents, Supreme Court justices and other members of the judiciary, six former U.S. Secretaries of State, as well numerous luminaries in academia, law, government, education, philanthropy, the arts, medicine, science, and industry.
About the National Institute of Social Sciences
Established in 1912, the National Institute of Social Sciences (www.socialsciencesinstitute.org) is an honorary society of Americans dedicated by service and philanthropy to the public weal and joined together to recognize and celebrate those who have achieved at the highest level. Since its founding, the National Institute has presented Gold Medals to distinguished honorees, established a vibrant chapter in Palm Beach, Florida, and more recently provided grants to graduate students in the social sciences.
For information about the Institute or the Gold Medal Dinner, please contact the Institute's offices at (212) 831-0560.