Sam Comes

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, May 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Elie Wiesel Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Elie Wiesel Ethics Prize. The winners come from schools across the country, and their essays have been selected through a rigorous anonymous process during which the distinguished readers’ committee and jury identified essays offering thoughtful, nuanced explorations of pressing ethical challenges in today’s world. Elisha Wiesel, son of Elie Wiesel and Chairman of The Elie Wiesel Foundation, remarked that “this year’s essays were outstanding and presented the jury with an exciting opportunity to engage with a range of ethical issues and deepen their own thinking.”

Now in its 37th year, the prize invites students to write essays that engage deeply with complex moral questions, often drawing from personal experience to illuminate broader societal and ethical issues. In addition to scholarships, the winners will participate in curated professional development training, including expert writing and speaking seminars, learning modules, and networking opportunities. The winners will be celebrated on October 6, 2026, at the annual Elie Wiesel Ethics Prize Dinner.

“I’m proud to partner with The Elie Wiesel Foundation in an essay contest that inspires students to wrestle deeply — in both a philosophical and personal way — with consequential issues facing humanity and society through an ethical lens. In writing essays that prod our conscience, this year’s remarkable group of student winners are already making a difference in the world. They each embody the hope that a new generation of moral leaders will rise to meet the challenges before us,” said Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman of The HOW Institute for Society and LRN, and board member of The Foundation and long-time partner on the Ethics Prize.

We congratulate the following winners:

Cynthia Medina, Yale University, 1st prize, When I Said I Was Fine

Noella Mongony, George Mason University, 2nd prize, Stones That Remember

Kaia Fujinaka, California Polytechnic State University, 3rd prize, What We Carry Quietly: Guilt at the Bedside

Honorable mention:

Shah Wasif Fabian, Eastern Illinois University, Stillness

Maya Kikov, Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, Solidarity in Silence: From Wiesel to October 7th

Aleyna Uslu, Montclair State University, The Spectrum of Silence

The Foundation’s Executive Director, LizAnn Eisen, said “The winning essays stood out in a year of record submissions. We appreciate the time and effort of our readers and our jury to identify essays that push each of us to think about systemic moral and ethical challenges.”

The Foundation will open submissions for the 2027 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest in Fall 2026. Submissions will be due in January 2027. The contest will be open to all undergraduate students enrolled as full-time students for the Spring 2027 semester at accredited four-year colleges and universities.

About The Elie Wiesel Foundation

Founded by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, and his wife Marion, The Foundation advocates for global human rights, ethical reflection and cross-cultural understanding through programs that engage students, artists, educators, and communities

in meaningful dialogue and action.

To learn more, visit: www.eliewieselfoundation.org.

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, February 25, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Elie Wiesel Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Opoku to its board of directors. On behalf of the board, I am honored to welcome Lisa Opoku to The Elie Wiesel Foundation,” said Elisha Wiesel. “Lisa brings a deep commitment to human dignity, and moral courage—values that are at the heart of my parents’ legacy. Her voice and perspective will strengthen our mission to promote tolerance and human dignity while building coalitions to dismantle barriers to justice wherever they appear.”

“Lisa has already made significant contributions to the The Elie Wiesel Foundation by dedicating her time to broaden the connections of The Foundation, especially for key technology and communication resources. This is exactly the kind of commitment and strategic vision that will make her a great board member,” said LizAnn Eisen, executive director of The Foundation.

Lisa is a recognized leader across business, law and philanthropy with over 30 years of experience in financial services. She currently is the Chief Operating Officer of Future Standard and a member of its Management Committee, where she plays a central role in shaping and executing the firm’s strategic agenda. Prior to that she spent over 20 years at Goldman Sachs, where she was a Partner for a decade. She most recently served as Global Head of the Goldman Sachs Partner Family Office in the firm’s Asset Management and Wealth Management Division. Her other leadership positions include serving as the Chief Operating Officer for each of Engineering, Asia Pacific Securities Division, and FICC Bank Loan Trading and Syndications. During her tenure in Asia, Lisa was based in Hong Kong for six years and worked extensively throughout Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, India and Australia. Lisa was recognized by Barrons in 2022 as one of The 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance. Lisa currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Contemporary Arts Memphis and is a member of the Board of Directors for Tradeweb Markets LLC, AssetMark, and Cedar Health Research. She is on the Board of Trustees for The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and The University of Minnesota. Lisa graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude and received her Juris Doctor from The Harvard Law School.

About The Elie Wiesel Foundation
Founded by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, and his wife, Marion, The Foundation fosters global human rights, ethical reflection, and cross-cultural understanding through programs that engage students, artists, educators, and communities in meaningful dialogue and action.

LizabethAnn R. Eisen
The Elie Wiesel Foundation
[email protected]
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
X

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2025 – The Elie Wiesel Foundation today announced LizabethAnn Eisen as the Foundation’s new Executive Director. “What excites me about this role is the moment we’re living in, and the opportunity to be part of the change I want to see in the world around us,” said Eisen. “I am honored to join The Elie Wiesel Foundation. Elie Wiesel’s words and work have inspired generations to find their moral courage to stand up against ignorance, injustice, and intolerance. It is a profound privilege to help carry forward that legacy and to work alongside a dedicated team committed to making a meaningful difference — in the United States, Israel, and around the world.” Eisen’s appointment positions the organization to make Elie Wiesel’s teachings relevant and actionable in today’s challenging world.

“We are thrilled to welcome LizAnn to the Foundation,” said Elisha Wiesel, Chairman of the Board and son of the late Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. “Her deep commitment to education and fighting injustice aligns perfectly with my father’s legacy. We look forward to LizAnn’s leadership as we continue to expand our reach and impact in the years ahead. In his 1986 Nobel acceptance speech, my father taught us that “action is the only remedy to indifference, the most insidious danger of all.” Eisen has held senior roles across the private, nonprofit and public sectors, where she has championed causes such as youth development, interfaith understanding, and human rights. In addition, Eisen brings a personal and professional connection to Israel, having worked closely with Israeli companies in private practice and teaching at Tel Aviv University Law School. Eisen’s ties to Israel underscore her commitment to the Jewish people, Jewish continuity, and to fostering global understanding grounded in shared values and historical memory.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Eisen was most recently an acting professor of the practice at Cornell Tech/Cornell Law School, an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon law school, and a senior partner in an early-stage investment firm. Prior to 2019, Eisen was a corporate partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in NYC, where she practiced for more than 20 years. She also served as the Deputy Director, Division of Corporation Finance at the Securities Exchange Commission.

To learn more about how the Foundation promotes tolerance, please visit: https://eliewieselfoundation.org/what-we-do/

About The Elie Wiesel Foundation:

Founded by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and his wife Marion, The Elie Wiesel Foundation seeks to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogue, education and youth-centered programming. Learn more at www.eliewieselfoundation.org.

For media inquiries, please contact:
[email protected]