KU News Release

LAWRENCE — An acclaimed artist, a baseball consultant, a television executive and a U.S. cabinet secretary are the recipients of the 2009-10 Alumni Distinguished Achievement Awards from the University of Kansas. It is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on its graduates.

The recipients are Ann Hamilton, of Columbus, Ohio; George William James, of Lawrence; Steve Mills, of Beverly Hills, Calif.; and Kathleen Sebelius, of Washington, D.C. Awards will be presented during the annual Deans Club Banquet on Friday, April 9, at the Kansas Union ballroom. College donors who gave $1,000 or more in the last year are invited to the banquet.

“It is a testament to the quality of education offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences that we continue to discover extraordinarily accomplished alumni each year to honor with these awards,” said Gregory B. Simpson, interim dean of the College. “It is a great privilege to recognize these four individuals for their contributions that have influenced disciplines as broad as the offerings of the College.”

Ann Hamilton

Ann Hamilton is a visual artist internationally recognized for the sensory surrounds of her large-scale multimedia installations. Noted for a dense accumulation of materials, her environments create immersive experiences that respond to the architectural presence and social history of their sites. Born in Lima, Ohio, in 1956, Hamilton received a bachelor’s in textile design from KU in 1979 and an master’s in sculpture from Yale University in 1985. Among her many honors, she has been a recipient of the Heinz Award, MacArthur Fellowship, Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, NEA Visual Arts Fellowship and United States Artists Fellowship, and she was chosen to represent the United States at the 48th Venice Biennale. In 1992, she established her home and practice in Columbus, Ohio. She is a professor of art at Ohio State University.

George William James

Through his innovative work with baseball research, George William James has changed the way the sport is viewed, understood and managed. James is senior adviser to the Boston Red Sox, contributing to the team’s two world championships. James was identified by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He has published more than 20 books and dozens of articles focusing on the elements of a winning baseball team. Every year, thousands of baseball fans eagerly await “The Bill James Handbook,” the most complete annual baseball guide available. His latest work, “The Bill James Gold Mine 2009,” is a groundbreaking collection of 17 original essays and statistical profiles. James received a bachelor’s degrees in English and economics from KU in 1973 and a bachelor’s in education in 1975.

Steve Mills

Steve Mills, president and producer of New Vision Entertainment, has led a distinctive entertainment career, producing more than 600 television movies and mini series. His work on “The Incident” was honored with an Emmy Award. As senior vice president of programming for Qintex Entertainment, he was responsible for the lauded “Lonesome Dove.” Mills has worked with such actors as Henry Fonda, Sidney Poitier, Burt Lancaster, Robert Duval and Anthony Hopkins. His career started locally at KCTV in 1953, but he was soon hired by ABC affiliate KABC Los Angeles as a producer-director-program manager. He attributes much of his success to his “Kansas ethic of honesty and common sense.” Mills has stayed loyal to his alma mater through his support and contributions to the KU’s film and media studies program. Mills graduated from KU in 1951 with a bachelor’s in liberal arts and sciences.

Kathleen Sebelius

Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as the 21st secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in April 2009. As secretary, she’s become a familiar face to Americans as a powerful advocate for reforming the nation’s health insurance system and a leader of the administration’s response to public health emergencies, including the H1N1 virus. She also oversees one of the largest civilian departments in the federal government with nearly 80,000 employees. Sebelius was elected governor of Kansas in 2002 and was reelected in 2006. In 2005, Time magazine named her one of America’s five best governors for her leadership and record of bipartisanship. Before her tenure as governor, Sebelius spent eight years as the Kansas insurance commissioner and was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1986 to 1994. Sebelius graduated from KU with a master’s in public administration in 1980.

The Alumni Distinguished Achievement Awards are presented annually to select graduates of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The awards recognize professional achievements, dedication to community and involvement with KU. Selection of recipients is made by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advisory Board. More information and nomination instructions can be found at clas.ku.edu. Follow the “Alumni & Friends” link. The College enrolls more than 18,000 students and encompasses more than 55 departments, programs and centers and the new School of the Arts. Nearly half of the students at KU earn their bachelor’s degrees from the College.