2023
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Art graduated from L&C with a BS in history in 1969. He completed medical school and began working at a health center in an Appalachian coal mining town. Art has been a buprenorphine (Suboxone)-prescribing physician, treating patients with opioid use disorder since 2003, and is board-certified in addiction medicine as well as internal medicine. Art has become an outspoken critic of Purdue Pharma’s marketing, testifying before a Senate committee hearing on the OxyContin problem in 2002. His work with local community groups who are seeking public policy changes and expansion of evidence-based treatment was featured in the books Painkiller and Dopesick.
2022
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Watch the Alumni Honors Celebration 2023!
Benedikt was born in Reykjavik, Iceland. He has had a robust international career in climate and development issues. Benedikt is currently the special envoy on climate and permanent representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency through his work with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland.