J. Pollard Turman Alumni Service Award

Jonathan Butler 96C

An Atlanta native, Jonathan Butler had always thought of Emory as an option after high school, but it wasn’t until he participated in a summer program at the university that he confirmed his decision to enroll. Since then, Emory has been in his blood.

Butler has left an indelible mark on the Emory Alumni Board and the community it serves. He served on the board from 2014 to 2020, including as secretary and president. He was instrumental in introducing new ways to engage alumni and has consistently sought opportunities to expand the board’s outreach, helping set in motion new awards for community impact and recognition.

Leveraging his expertise and leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Butler has helped Emory become a more welcoming and diverse space for students and alumni. He led the Caucus of Emory Black Alumni from 2013 to 2016. He also played a key role on the Emory Transforming Community Project steering committee and the Emory President’s Commission on the Status of Minorities. Butler provided valuable insights as a consultant to the Twin Memorials Working Group, which seeks to honor the lives of enslaved individuals who helped build Emory's original campus.

Notably, Butler is a founding member and current leader of the Black Emory Impact Circle, which supports causes important to the Black community through the power of collective philanthropic giving.

Butler’s service goes beyond alumni. He actively engages with Emory students to make their experience better. He volunteered as a career coach for Emory Career Network in 2012 and served on the Emory Alumni Board’s Student to Alumni Experience Committee.