The University of Colorado has named Hannah Wilks and Wesley Marshall as the recipients of the 2025 Thomas Jefferson Award, one of the institution’s highest honors. The award recognizes members of the CU community who demonstrate educational excellence, civic responsibility, and a commitment to the welfare of individuals.
Hannah Wilks, assistant dean of students at CU Boulder, has spent over 17 years working to improve equity and access to resources on campus. She has held several roles including positions in the Women’s Resource Center, Volunteer Resource Center, Student Outreach, Advocacy and Support. In each role, she has worked to remove barriers and foster a more inclusive environment for students, staff, and faculty.
Wilks is known for founding CU Boulder’s Basic Needs Center. The center was the first office on campus dedicated to addressing food insecurity and now serves as a model across Colorado. Programs like Buff Pantry and Mobile Food Pantry have provided meals for thousands in need. Wilks has developed partnerships with over 150 organizations at local, national, and international levels to support these initiatives.
Her work extends beyond campus through board membership on the Colorado Agricultural Development Authority—where she was appointed by both Gov. Polis and former Gov. Hickenlooper—and co-founding the Colorado Higher Education Basic Needs Coalition. This coalition supports essential needs work across all post-secondary institutions in Colorado.
Wilks will be honored at a reception on September 26 at CU Boulder.
Wesley Marshall joined CU Denver’s College of Engineering, Design and Computing in 2009. He is recognized for his research into transportation systems that prioritize safety, sustainability, and health. As associate chair of Civil Engineering and Construction and director of both CU Denver’s Transportation Research Center and Human-Centered Transportation program, he connects technical expertise with civic responsibility.
Marshall has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and secured more than $6 million in research funding. His work has been featured in national media outlets such as The Atlantic, NPR’s Science Friday, and The Washington Post. In 2024 he published “Killed by a Traffic Engineer,” which discusses transportation policy using research alongside cultural critique.
Marshall is also committed to teaching and mentorship; he has received several faculty awards from CU Denver for research and teaching excellence. He works to increase diversity within engineering by securing federal GAANN funding for graduate students from underrepresented groups.
He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia—a university founded by Thomas Jefferson—which influenced his commitment to Jeffersonian ideals throughout his career.
Marshall will be recognized at a reception on October 2 at CU Denver.
The Thomas Jefferson Award is given annually across the University of Colorado system to faculty, staff or students whose achievements embody Jefferson’s values while advancing higher education or society more broadly. Recipients are selected by a committee made up of university faculty, staff, and students; winners receive an engraved plaque along with a $2,000 honorarium.
Nominations for next year’s award are due December 8; additional details can be found at https://www.cu.edu/oaa/recognitions/thomas-jefferson-award.
