American University alumni are changemakers in their communities and leaders in their fields. From international relations and politics to activism and social justice, AU graduates are shaping the future for generations to come. This year, the university’s Alumni Association celebrates six distinguished alumni for their outstanding achievements.  

The Alumni Board and the Office of Alumni Relations will honor recipients of the 2024 Alumni Awards on Thursday, April 25. These awards are the highest honors presented by the Alumni Association. Please join us as we celebrate these alumni and the changemaking spirit of American University.   

The 2024 Alumni Award Winners are: 

GLOBAL ALUMNI LEADER AWARD 

The Global Alumni Leader Award honors alumni whose substantial impacts on society exemplify AU’s tradition of service and leadership in the context of a global community.  

Mong-Yong Chung, Kogod/MBA ’91 
Chairman, Hyundai Sungwoo Holdings 

Mong-Yong Chung followed in the trailblazing footsteps of his uncle and Hyundai founder Ju-Yung Chung, and his father, Soon-Yung Chung, who established Seohan Precision Machine Co., which evolved to become Hyundai Sungwoo Holdings. Today, Mong-Yong is chairman of Hyundai Sungwoo Holdings, one of Korea’s leading automotive parts companies.  

NEIL KERWIN ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 

Renamed in 2016 to commemorate the successes of AU’s first alumni president, the Neil Kerwin Alumni Achievement Award recognizes alumni who distinguish themselves through their professional accomplishments. 

The Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee, SOC/BA ’73, WCL/JD ’76, WCL/Hon. LLD ’03 
Judge, US District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia (Retired) 

Judge Lee was as a trial judge before serving on the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia (Fairfax). President Bill Clinton then nominated him to serve as a judge on the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia. He would go on to join the McCammon Group, where he serves the mediation, arbitration, special master, and judge pro tempore needs of lawyers and litigants throughout Virginia, DC, and beyond. Judge Lee is also a trustee of AU, helping to oversee academic affairs, campus life, and the stewardship of university funds. 

ALUMNI RECOGNITION AWARD 

The Alumni Recognition Award recognizes alumni who inspire the world around them through service to the community or a philanthropic mission.  

Jan Du Plain, SPA/BA ’66 
President, Du Plain Global Enterprises 

Jan Du Plain is a nationally recognized public relations professional and passionate supporter of connecting Washington, DC, to the world. Her professional experiences include working for her father’s California newspaper, at a literary agency in Hollywood, and as a public relations liaison for CBS Cinema Center Films in New York. She later settled back in DC to become the public relations director of the historic Ford’s Theatre and then the public relations director for WETA TV and Radio. In 1995, Jan founded Du Plain Global Enterprises, Inc., an international public relations and special events company, where she continues to serve as president and CEO. 

ALUMNI EAGLE AWARD 

The Alumni Eagle Award recognizes alumni who have rendered outstanding service to the university and/or the Alumni Association.  

Rob Johnson, SPA/BS ’81 
Assistant General Counsel, ExxonMobil (Retired) 
 
After earning his law degree and spending time in private practice, Rob joined the Exxon Mobil Corporation, eventually serving as Assistant General Counsel and leading a team of 50 lawyers and staff. Rob, well known around campus for his commitment to AU, served for many years on the AU Alumni Board, including as president in 2019 and 2020.  

RISING STAR AWARD 

The Rising Star Award recognizes recent alumni (who received their degree within the last 10 years) who are already making significant contributions to greater society through professional or philanthropic work.  

Deon Jones, SPA/BA ’14 
Performance Artist 

Deon Jones is a musician, artist, and activist. During protests following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Deon was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by the LAPD. Deon turned this traumatic experience into energy—recording a powerful rendition of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” featuring Academy Award-winning composer Jon Batiste. The performance was hailed by Rolling Stone Magazine and U2’s own Bono as “transformative” and by the Boston Globe as “a performance with clarifying power.” 

Yamillet Payano, CAS/BS ’18 
CEO and Cofounder, Sign-Speak 

In 2021, Yami Payano cofounded Sign-Speak, a successful start-up working to provide seamless interaction between Signers (predominantly Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals) and non-Signers (predominantly hearing individuals). She won a prestigious Google for Startups Black Founders Fund award for $100,000, and first prize and $20,000 in funding in the LATINX Launchpad-SoCal pitch competition series, sponsored by HIP (Hispanics in Philanthropy). Yami also was named a top young innovator in the “25 under 25” round-up by DC Inno.