2025 honorees celebrated for leadership and accomplishments
Each year, the Clark Alumni Council recognizes outstanding alumni and their dedication to both Clark University and society at large. The chosen honorees, though diverse in their achievements and impact, share a common thread — an unwavering commitment to helping others, a value deeply ingrained in their Clark education. They exemplify boldness and imagination, applying their talents to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
The Alumni Council is proud to announce the following recipients of this year’s awards, who will be recognized during Alumni Weekend on Friday, May 16:
- Distinguished Service Award: Lee Plave ’80
- Young Alumni Award: Faaiz Masood ’20
- University Award for Service to Society: Spencer Platt ’94
- Challenging Convention Award: Corey Hinderstein ’96
“Each year the Alumni Council gets phenomenal nominations for the Alumni Awards from the Clark community. I’d like to thank all who participate and help make the winner selection a very tough but meaningful process,” said Cindy Ironson, director of Alumni and Friends Engagement.
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by Clark’s Alumni Council, recognizes and celebrates a graduate who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and volunteerism for Clark over several decades.
Lee Plave ’80 is a dedicated member of the Clark Board of Trustees and an active supporter of the University and the Clark Fund. Plave, a partner at Plave Koch, PLC, is a multi-year Reunion Committee Member, including for this year’s Alumni Weekend. He has participated in the Alumni in Residence program and hosted alumni events in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he has been a driving force behind the Alumni Hockey and Friends gathering, the longest-running annual alumni event.
Previously, Plave served on the Alumni Athletics Committee and continues to make a meaningful impact through philanthropy. In honor of his late wife, Ilene, who passed away from ALS, he sponsors an endowed summer research program supporting fundamental neuroscience research through the Plave Family Research Fellowship. Plave’s volunteerism and philanthropy, as well as his dedication to the University, inspire fellow Clark alumni to engage and give back in meaningful ways.
Young Alumni Award
The Young Alumni Award recognizes a Clark Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) who has served as an exceptional leader and volunteer for Clark since graduation.
Faaiz Masood ’20, a senior software solutions analyst at Bamboo Rose, has been a dedicated GOLD Council member since 2021, strengthening alumni engagement through mentorship and event leadership. He co-founded the Computer Science Alumni Board, piloting initiatives like the Career Connections Series to foster alumni-student mentorship and career development. As GOLD Young Alumni Subcommittee Chair, he has helped organize Welcome to the City events in Boston and New York, as well as the Boston Young Alumni Social, bringing alumni together to build a more connected community. Masood has also contributed as an alumni panelist at Clark’s Sophomore Summit in February, sharing insights with undergraduates about career pathways and professional growth.
Beyond alumni engagement, Masood has served as a judge for Clark’s spring and fall Hackathons, encouraging student innovation and alumni participation. His commitment to mentorship extends to Project CODY, where he partnered with Clark faculty and student mentors to teach middle and high school students programming fundamentals. In 2024, he received the Computer Science Alumni of the Year Award in recognition of his leadership and impact. Masood’s contributions extend beyond Clark. As a SPARK Boston Council Member, he collaborates with city leaders, including the Mayor of Boston, to empower young professionals and strengthen civic engagement. His dedication to fostering connections, mentorship, and community impact exemplifies the spirit of this award and serves as an inspiration to fellow alumni.
University Award for Service to Society
The University Award for Service to Society celebrates an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to society since graduating from Clark while advancing a cause consistent with Clark’s values.
Spencer Platt ’94 has spent more than two decades using the power of visual storytelling to bear witness to history and uncover hard truths. As a photojournalist for Getty Images, Platt has documented some of the world’s most devastating conflicts and crises, from war zones in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Congo to national tragedies in the United States. His fearless commitment to capturing moments that shape society has earned him widespread recognition, including a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography for his coverage of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
He has also received the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year and was a Pulitzer finalist for his work documenting New York City’s battle against COVID-19. Through his lens, Platt challenges convention, confronts injustice, and preserves history, embodying the University’s mission of societal impact. His work inspires many, including fellow alumni, demonstrating the power of photojournalism in shaping a more informed and just world.
Challenging Convention Award
Inspired by Clark graduates’ deep reverence for the University’s motto — “Challenge Convention. Change Our World.” — the Alumni Council recently established the Challenging Convention Award to honor an individual who “has a crowning achievement in advancing a particular artistic, social, or scientific cause deemed consonant with University values.”
Corey Hinderstein ’96, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has built a distinguished career of global consequence focused on reducing the risks posed by nuclear materials and technology. In November 2021, Hinderstein was confirmed by the United States Senate as the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. She later served as NNSA’s Acting Principal Deputy Administrator, leading strategic initiatives across the Agency. At NNSA, Hinderstein was part of the nation’s senior policy leadership for national and international nuclear security, including nonproliferation, arms control deterrence, and science and technology. Her work exemplifies a commitment to challenging convention and driving meaningful change in world policy and security.
Hinderstein has generously dedicated her time to Clark, serving on the D.C. Leadership Council since 2019. She and her husband, Chase, also an alum of the class of ’96, have demonstrated their deep commitment to Clark’s institutional imperatives through leadership, service, and philanthropy, Hinderstein continues to inspire fellow alumni, embodying Clark’s values of bold thinking and global impact.
All alumni are invited to celebrate the winners on Friday, May 16, during Alumni Weekend. Tickets can be purchased online. For more information, please visit Clark’s Alumni Weekend registration page.
“The Alumni and Friends Engagement team appreciates the time, attention, and heart our Alumni Council devotes to the nomination process and award selection,” Ironson said. The Alumni Council’s Awards Committee comprises David Brenerman ’73, chair; Thomas Montanari ’25; Jermel Moody ’00; Abhishek Raman ’09; Edgardo Rivera ’86, P ’09; Samuel Miller ’77; Adi Tibrewal, MBA ’05; and Sage Zetzman ’25.
Do you know someone who should be nominated for an Alumni Award? Submissions are now open for 2026.
Past recipients can be viewed here.