The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will present its 10th Great Americans Medal to Ava DuVernay Thursday, May 8, for her extraordinary contributions to the nation as a director, writer, producer and film distributor.
Supported by philanthropist and Smithsonian Regent Emeritus David M. Rubenstein, the award ceremony will include a conversation between Rubenstein and DuVernay. The Great Americans Medal will be presented to DuVernay for her lifetime contributions embodying American ideas and ideals from the museum’s Elizabeth MacMillan Director Anthea M. Hartig with Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and Rubenstein. Since its inception in 2016, the Great Americans Medal has honored trailblazers who have made a lasting impact in their fields and whose philanthropic and humanitarian endeavors have set them apart. The medal presentation will be webcast live at 7 p.m. ET, and the link will be provided to those who preregister.
“DuVernay’s extraordinary impact through the medium of film, using it to cast an unflinching eye on American history brought her forward as someone who exemplifies the highest ideals of artistry, altruism and advocacy,” Hartig said. “Her service and achievements embody the true meaning of a Great American.”
DuVernay will be the first director, writer and producer to receive the award. An Academy Award nominee and winner of Emmy, BAFTA, Sundance, Image and Peabody awards, DuVernay has an extensive catalog of achievements. Her films include Selma, the first film directed by an African American woman to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar; 13th, which made her the first African American woman to be nominated for an Oscar in a feature directing category; Middle of Nowhere, which earned her Sundance’s Best Director Prize; and Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, which made her the highest grossing Black woman director in American box office history. DuVernay’s four-part TV series When They See Us was honored with 16 Emmy nominations. Her critically acclaimed series Queen Sugar took its place in history as the longest-running Black family drama series with 88 episodes across seven seasons.
A champion of independent voices, DuVernay founded the narrative change collective ARRAY in 2011, recipient of the Peabody Institutional Award. She was given an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Yale University, and her portrait was commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. In 2023, she made history again as the first African American woman director to compete at the Venice Biennale in its 100-year history with her feature film Origin.
DuVernay serves on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, representing the directors branch, and holds leadership roles with the Directors Guild of America and the American Film Institute advisory boards. Her cultural influence is showcased with the making of an Ava DuVernay Barbie doll, a Funko Pop figurine and a custom Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor. She lives and works in her hometown of Los Angeles.
About the Great Americans Medal
The museum will present DuVernay with a specially minted medal struck in Wisconsin in 14-karat gold. It features an American eagle with rays of the sun on the obverse or “head’s side” with the words “Great Americans” and “National Museum of American History” engraved around the edge. The reverse side honors one of the museum’s most important treasures, the Star-Spangled Banner, and states the Smithsonian mission: “For the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” It measures approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter and was inspired by the museum’s rare Double Eagle coins designed by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens for the $20 gold piece in 1903 at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. The medal was made possible by museum alumni board member Jeff Garrett and designed by Michael Guilfoyle, an international designer of coins and medals.
The Great Americans Medal presentation includes an interview with the awardee by Rubenstein; his conversations trace the arc of honorees’ personal lives and careers for a broader understanding of the nation’s shared democracy and values. Honorees’ accomplishments and influence on American history connect to the museum’s collections and exhibitions. Previous honorees include Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Gen. Colin L. Powell, Thomas J. Brokaw, Cal Ripken Jr., Billie Jean King, Paul Simon, Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (posthumously) and YoYo Ma. Videos of previous recipients along with more information can be found on the Great Americans website and on the Great Americans YouTube playlist.
Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History seeks to empower people to create a more just and compassionate future by examining, preserving and sharing the complexity of our past. The museum, located on Constitution Avenue N.W., between 12th and 14th streets, is open daily except Dec. 25, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. The doors of the museum are always open online, and the virtual museum continues to expand its offerings, including online exhibitions, PK–12 educational materials and programs. The public can follow the museum on social media on Instagram and Facebook. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.
# # #
SI-104-2025
