American Swiss Foundation honors Susan Hockfield at 55th Stratton Prize dinner

The American Swiss Foundation hosted its 55th Stratton Prize dinner on Oct. 15, 2026, at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass., honoring Susan Hockfield, former MIT president. The event highlighted the prize’s long role in recognizing leaders who strengthen Swiss-U.S. ties and featured remarks from Foundation leaders and the Swiss ambassador to the United States.

Why it matters: - The Stratton Prize is one of the American Swiss Foundation’s signature honors for people who advance intercultural understanding between Switzerland and the United States. - The 2026 dinner placed Susan Hockfield, the 16th president of MIT, among a roster of laureates that includes diplomats, scholars, scientists and civic leaders. - The event also underscored the Foundation’s focus on leadership networks that connect the two countries.

What happened: - The American Swiss Foundation hosted the 55th Stratton Prize dinner on Oct. 15, 2026, at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts. - The Foundation honored Susan Hockfield, PhD, MIT’s 16th president from 2004 to 2012, as the 2026 Stratton Laureate. - Dr. Michelle Hanlon, deputy dean for faculty and research at MIT Sloan School of Management and a member of the ASF Stratton Prize Committee, moderated a fireside conversation with Hockfield. - Shantenae Robinson, head of U.S. strategic partnerships at Aon and a member of the ASF Alumni Committee, opened the evening with introductory remarks. - His Excellency Dr. Ralf Heckner, ambassador of Switzerland to the United States, delivered closing remarks.

The details: - The Stratton Prize was founded by Dr. Freddy Homburger, who served as honorary consul for Switzerland in Boston from 1966 to 1986. - The prize recognizes career achievements that foster intercultural understanding between Switzerland and the United States. - The first Stratton Prize went to Julius Adams Stratton in 1966. - Julius Adams Stratton was a former MIT president and later chair of the Ford Foundation. - The Foundation said Stratton was recognized for integrating the humanities at MIT, shaped by his education at ETH Zürich and exposure to Swiss humanistic thinking. - Swiss International Air Lines and Läderach supported the evening. - The Foundation listed more than 50 past Stratton Laureates, including diplomats, academics, artists, scientists and business leaders.

Between the lines: - The laureate list shows the prize has expanded beyond academia to include public service, diplomacy, entrepreneurship and the arts. - The Foundation’s framing ties the award to a broader leadership pipeline between the two countries, not just a single ceremonial dinner. - The event at MIT reinforced the institution’s long connection to the prize and to several past honorees.

What's next: - The American Swiss Foundation will continue using the Stratton Prize and its Young Leaders network to spotlight people who strengthen Swiss-U.S. relations. - The Foundation said its alumni network from the past 35 Young Leaders conferences now exceeds 1,800 leaders. - Those alumni include members of U.S. Congress, Swiss parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, business executives, media professionals and public policy experts.

The bottom line: - The 2026 Stratton Prize dinner was both a tribute to Susan Hockfield and a reminder of the Foundation’s long-term role in building Swiss-American ties.