The University of Colorado has named Hannah Wilks and Wesley Marshall as the recipients of the 2025 Thomas Jefferson Award, an honor given to members of the university community who demonstrate a commitment to educational excellence, broad interests, civic responsibility, and the welfare of individuals.
Hannah Wilks is the assistant dean of students at CU Boulder. Over her 17-year tenure at CU Boulder, she has worked in various roles including the Women’s Resource Center, Volunteer Resource Center, Student Outreach, Advocacy and Support. In these positions, she has focused on removing systemic barriers and fostering a more inclusive environment for students, staff, and faculty.
Wilks established CU Boulder’s Basic Needs Center, which was the first office of its kind on campus. The center operates programs such as the Buff Pantry and Mobile Food Pantry that have provided hundreds of thousands of meals to address food insecurity. She has also built partnerships with more than 150 organizations at local, national, and international levels.
Her involvement extends beyond campus through board membership on the Colorado Agricultural Development Authority and leadership in founding the Colorado Higher Education Basic Needs Coalition. “Wilks’ work reflects the Jeffersonian ideal of civic responsibility, combining leadership, public service and a commitment to the welfare of individuals,” according to the announcement. She will be recognized at a reception scheduled for September 26 in Boulder.
Wesley Marshall is a professor in Civil Engineering and Urban and Regional Planning at CU Denver. Since joining CU Denver in 2009, he has directed both the Transportation Research Center and Human-Centered Transportation program. His research explores how community design affects safety, sustainability, and health. Marshall’s work includes over 100 peer-reviewed publications and more than $6 million in funding.
His scholarship has been featured by media outlets such as The Atlantic, NPR’s Science Friday, and The Washington Post. His recent book is titled “Killed by a Traffic Engineer.” “His work bridges technical expertise with civic responsibility, aligning closely with Jeffersonian ideals,” states the university.
Marshall is also recognized for his teaching efforts; he has received several awards from CU Denver for both research and teaching. He supports diversity initiatives within engineering by securing federal funding to assist graduate students from underrepresented groups.
Marshall completed his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia—an institution founded by Thomas Jefferson—and notes that this experience continues to inform his approach today. He will be honored at an event on October 2 in Denver.
The Thomas Jefferson Award is presented annually across all campuses within the University of Colorado system to faculty, staff or students whose achievements align with Jefferson’s ideals. Recipients are selected by a committee comprised of faculty, staff and students from across CU campuses; they receive an engraved plaque along with a $2,000 honorarium.
Nominations for next year’s award are due December 8. More information about nomination criteria can be found at https://www.cu.edu/oaa/recognitions/thomas-jefferson-award.
