Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier was named one of Carnegie Corporation of New York’s “Great Immigrants, Great Americans,” an annual list honoring naturalized citizens’ contributions to democracy and to America.
“The Great Immigrants initiative is a tribute to the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who, like these honorees, found success in America, contributed enormously to his adopted country, and inspired others to do the same,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a naturalized citizen who first came to the United States from Ireland as a graduate student. “The 35 naturalized citizens honored today embody that tradition, reminding us that the contributions of immigrants make our country more vibrant and our democracy more resilient.”
Born in Berlin, Germany, Diermeier is a first-generation college graduate.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Carnegie Corporation,” Diermeier said. “My experiences and scholarship have been profoundly shaped by American values, and I am deeply grateful for all the opportunities this great country has offered immigrants like me.”
An internationally renowned political scientist and management scholar, Diermeier was named Vanderbilt’s ninth chancellor in 2020. Before joining Vanderbilt he served as provost of the University of Chicago and dean of that university’s Harris School of Public Policy. He has held faculty positions at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
The Carnegie Corporation of New York honors the contributions of immigrants to American society annually on the Fourth of July. View the 2023 honoree list here.