The Heritage Foundation has recognized Sorrell College of Business Associate Dean Dr. Allen Mendenhall as one of its 12 Freedom and Opportunity Academic Prize recipients.

“For Dr. Mendenhall to receive such a distinguished honor from the Heritage Foundation truly validates the relevance and impact of his work. I am very happy to see him recognized and this only reinforces the importance of the work being done by Johnson Center for Political Economy,” said Sorrell College Dean Dr. Judson Edwards.

The prize comes with a $20,000 stipend for Mendenhall’s work through the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy and the Philadelphia Society, for which he built and directed its Future of Freedom Fellowship program. Mendenhall has also served as a Philadelphia Society trustee from 2018-2022.

“Given your past contributions to your field, your current areas of study, and the future promise that your academic career holds, we are delighted to commend you as an outstanding scholar,” said Heritage Foundation President Dr. Kevin D. Roberts in a letter announcing the award.

“Through the Freedom and Opportunity Academic Prize, Heritage hopes to encourage the robust exploration and development of ideas that help sharpen our own scholars’ thinking, support the work of courageous faculty members on often-hostile college campuses, grow the network of talented researchers and public intellectuals, encourage new partnerships, and ultimately help to advance Heritage’s vision of building an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish,” he added.

As part of the award, Mendenhall will participate in a Heritage-hosted academic colloquium in Washington, D.C. in August.

“I’m honored that the Heritage Foundation would include me as one of the recipients of this new prize. The Heritage Foundation and President Roberts are doing excellent work, and I’m thrilled that they have recognized the progress and impact we have made at the Manuel Johnson Center,” Mendenhall said.