President Eisgruber honored by the National Institute of Social Sciences

Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber received the Gold Honor Medal from the National Institute of Social Sciences on Dec. 9, an honor that recognizes “extraordinary individuals who have made the highest contribution to the improvement of society.”

The organization cited Eisgruber as a national leader in support of the value of research and liberal arts education, noting his commitments to free speech and academic inquiry, his record of public service, and his efforts to increase the representation of lower-income and first-generation college students at Princeton and higher education institutions across the country. 

Frederick Larsen, board president of the Institute, called Eisgruber “a courageous public voice in the debate over the importance and independence of the university in society.”

“He advocates a model which embodies fairness, integrity and rigorous pursuit of the truth, without yielding to internal or external pressure or the fashions of the day,” Larsen said in remarks delivered during the awards ceremony in New York City. “He understands higher education in America is a tremendously valuable asset to society overall, and with such prominence comes a great responsibility to fulfill that promise.”

Following the awards ceremony, Eisgruber said: “I am grateful to the Institute for this honor and, more importantly, for its commitment to scholarship that deepens understanding of human society and enhances our civic and cultural lives.”

One of the nation’s oldest honorary societies, the National Institute of Social Sciences encourages and supports the study of social sciences as a discipline with “valuable insights into issues of urgent and lasting concern.” 

The organization has awarded the Gold Honor Medal for “distinguished service to society and humanity” since 1913, with past winners including U.S. presidents and Supreme Court justices, scientists, academics, authors, philanthropists, business leaders and journalists. Eisgruber received the 2025 Gold Honor Medal along with Nobel Prize-winning labor economist Claudia Goldin and University of California-Berkeley psychologist and cognitive scientist Alison Gopnik.

Eisgruber has used his new book, “Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right,” as a platform to speak up for higher education and challenge misperceptions about free speech and academic freedom on America’s campuses. 

Since becoming Princeton’s president in 2013, he has led efforts to increase the number of first-generation and lower-income students attending colleges and universities across the country, as well as efforts to expand the number of students at Princeton from community college, veteran and military backgrounds. 

He serves as co-chair of the American Talent Initiative steering committee and on the board of directors of the Association of American Universities. His other honors include the United States Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest civilian honor given by the Navy, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.