Emory celebrates excellence in global engagement at 2026 International Awards Ceremony

By Sophia Neitsch April 22, 2026

The 2026 International Awards Winners (L-R) Parminder Suchdev, Jennifer Ducksworth, Adriana Guttierez Yllu and Alawode Oladele were honored at a recent ceremony.

On March 31, the Emory community gathered to celebrate global leadership and service at the International Awards Ceremony, hosted by Emory Global Engagement. The event honored four distinguished award winners from the Emory community, including students, alumni, faculty and staff, whose achievements and dedication exemplify the university’s dedication to global connection and exchange.

This year’s recipients are:

Parminder Suchdev, Marion V. Creekmore Award for Internationalization
Alawode Oladele, Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award
Jennifer Ducksworth, International Outreach Award
Adriana Gutierrez Yllu, Global Student Leadership Award

The International Awards Ceremony and Reception also featured distinguished guests (L-R) Consul General of Nigeria in Atlanta, Ambassador Auwalu Jega Namadina, Adriana Guttierez Yllu, Madhu and Professor Jagdish Sheth, Alawode Oladele, Jennifer Ducksworth and Ambassador Marion Creekmore.

Creekmore Award for Internationalization

The 2026 Marion V. Creekmore Award for Internationalization was presented to Parminder Suchdev. A physician-epidemiologist and professor of pediatrics and global health in the School of Medicine, Suchdev has dedicated more than 20 years to advancing maternal and child nutrition and strengthening global health systems. His work bridges research, clinical care and policy, translating evidence into practice to improve health equity worldwide. Suchdev also serves as a pediatric hospitalist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award

The Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award was presented to Alawode Oladele 93MPH, a physician and public health executive with more than three decades of experience in infectious disease control and global health leadership. Born in Nigeria, Oladele has advanced care for underserved communities through humanitarian missions across Africa and the Caribbean, refugee health initiatives and sickle cell disease advocacy. He currently serves as supervising physician and laboratory director at DeKalb Public Health. Oladele is also the CEO of both Premiere International Health Care Inc. and GIANT Non-Profit Inc., as well as a co-founder of CMG Global Foundation.

International Outreach Award

The International Outreach Award was presented to Jennifer Ducksworth in recognition of her transformative impact on Emory’s international student community. As senior program coordinator for student engagement at the Professional Advancement and Student Experience Center, she leads the Rollins International Student Advisory Board and advises 25 student organizations at Rollins School of Public Health. Her work in mentorship, resiliency training and inclusive programming has strengthened belonging and cross-cultural engagement across campus.

Global Student Leadership Award

The Global Student Leadership Award was presented to Adriana Gutierrez Yllu, a second-year Master of Public Health student at Rollins School of Public Health and an international student from Peru. As president of La Alianza Latinx at Emory, she fosters inclusive community spaces and mentors peers. Through her leadership, research and service, Yllu is committed to advancing health equity and fostering welcoming communities where people feel they truly belong.

At the ceremony, Provost Badia Ahad and Vice Provost for Global Engagement Jane Gatewood shared congratulatory words and introduced the evening. Distinguished guests included civil rights leader and former Atlanta Mayor Ambassador Andrew Young; Mayor of Clarkston Beverly Burks; the Consul General of Peru in Atlanta, Giancarlo León Collazos; and Ambassador Auwalu Jega Namadina, the Consul General of Nigeria in Atlanta, all of whom underscored the international spirit of the celebration.

More information on the awards can be found online, or by emailing global@emory.edu.

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