David P. Patton Distinguished Alumni Award
The David P. Patton Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes exceptional American Councils alumni whose leadership, achievements, and service reflect the transformative power of international education. Your support helps them build on that impact — strengthening professional networks, advancing meaningful projects, and creating new opportunities for connection across borders.
Honoring a Career Dedicated to Global Connection
The David P. Patton Distinguished Alumni Award was established in recognition of Dr. David P. Patton’s more than three decades of leadership at American Councils and his lasting contributions to international education and public diplomacy.
Dr. Patton’s own journey with American Councils began through international education. He went on to serve in roles spanning program leadership and global field operations before becoming President and CEO in 2019. Throughout his career, he championed the power of language learning, cultural exchange, and education to strengthen international ties and build shared understanding.
The award carries that legacy forward by recognizing American Councils alumni whose achievements reflect those same values — and by investing in their continued growth and impact.
Supporting the Next Chapter of Alumni Leadership
The award is designed not only to recognize what distinguished alumni have already accomplished, but to help them continue building on that work.
Professional Growth
Awardees have opportunities for consultations, discussions, and professional development with American Councils, program partners, and leaders in the public and private sectors.
Reconnection & Exchange
Recipients can reconnect with the communities and networks that shaped their international experience, creating new opportunities for collaboration, learning, and exchange.
Projects with Purpose
The award supports activities that matter to each recipient — from research and academic engagement to lectures, professional initiatives, and projects that advance their work and communities.
Meet the Inaugural Recipients
In 2024, American Councils selected Anna Landre and Elnura Osmonalieva as the inaugural recipients of the David P. Patton Distinguished Alumni Award. Their work demonstrates how an international exchange experience can continue shaping careers, communities, and connections decades later.
Anna Landre
Anna Landre is an internationally recognized disability rights activist and researcher whose Critical Language Scholarship experience in Brazil helped bring together her interests in global affairs and disability advocacy.
During her program, Anna connected with a local organization led by people with disabilities — an experience that helped shape the cross-border disability community-building and knowledge-sharing at the center of her work today.
“...has served as the basis of my work today.”
Her work has since included supporting Ukrainians with disabilities, advocating for accessible humanitarian and disaster response, and advancing disability inclusion in public policy.
Elnura Osmonalieva
Elnura Osmonalieva has built a career at the intersection of education and filmmaking in Kyrgyzstan and beyond.
As co-creator and director of the Bilimkana Schools network, she oversees schools across Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan while continuing her work as a filmmaker exploring themes of family, education, and the experiences of young women in Central Asia.
“It has been a truly life-changing experience.”
Her story reflects the lasting impact that a single exchange can have — not only on one participant, but on the students, institutions, and communities they go on to influence.
Help Distinguished Alumni
Carry Their Work Forward.
American Councils alumni are educators, researchers, advocates, public servants, entrepreneurs, and leaders working across countries and communities around the world.
A gift to the David P. Patton Distinguished Alumni Award helps recognize extraordinary alumni while giving them opportunities to reconnect, grow professionally, advance meaningful projects, and extend the impact of international education long after their original program has ended.