Jake's Golden Heart Award

Jake’s Golden Heart Award recipient, 2025 Ellen Agnor Bailey

Ellen Agnor Bailey's connection to Emory is exceptionally deep, marked by generations of family commitment and decades of personal service.

A double Emory alum, Ellen has served as a two-term Emory Alumni Association President and is a trustee emerita. Her family's loyalty is legendary: four generations of women—including Ellen, her mother, a daughter, and two granddaughters—have graduated from Emory, collectively earning an impressive 14 degrees from the university’s schools and colleges.

Growing up in a family that deeply valued education as a foundational gift, Ellen has consistently mirrored that belief throughout her life. Following her graduation, she became a successful businesswoman, dedicated to a life of achievement and service to both Emory and Atlanta.

Her philanthropic dedication is extraordinary. For 58 consecutive years, Ellen has generously supported the university, impacting students, faculty, and academic programs across the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, the Emory University School of Law, and more.

For her unwavering belief in the power of education, her tireless advocacy, and a lifetime of heartfelt altruism, the Emory Alumni Association is proud to present Ellen Agnor Bailey with this year’s Jake’s Golden Heart Award.