First Presidential Medallion honors Chairman Finnegan

Trustee Jean Tempel, Chairman Neal Finnegan
and President Joseph Aoun at the presentation of
the Presidential Medallion.
Photo by JOHN GILLOLY

Northeastern’s Presidential Medallion is the highest honor the university can bestow upon a member of the university community. Its holders are intended to be shining exemplars of Northeastern’s academic and research excellence, devoted to the world of learning.

Fittingly, the first-ever Presidential Medallion has been presented to trustees' Chairman Neal Finnegan, whose dedication to Northeastern, its values and especially its students spans five decades.

President Joseph Aoun, at whose behest the new honor was created, proudly placed the medallion on Finnegan during a special reception on the eve of commencement. The longtime chairman of the board wore the medallion over his robes during graduate exercises, where Aoun called graduates’ attention to the honor.

“What spurred us to choose Chairman Finnegan as our inaugural Presidential Medallion recipient was as much about Neal’s values and leadership qualities as it was about his individual accomplishments,” said Aoun, who was joined in the tribute by trustee Jean Tempel and other members of the board.

“The impact of who he is as a person and what he stands for has been felt in all corners of our great university, on behalf of which he has worked tirelessly and given so much, Aoun said.

Finnegan said he was surprised and deeply touched.

“Being awarded the first Presidential Medallion was an unexpected and most appreciated honor,” he said.

“From my days as a student to mid-career and later as a business executive, I have valued the education I received at Northeastern University and have tried over the years to give back to my school,” Finnegan said. “Needless to say, all of us who have played a part in the rise of Northeastern’s reputation over the last several decades deserve a share of this recognition. I wear the medal appreciating that I wear it as a representative of all those who worked so hard.”

President Joseph Aoun points out Chairman Neal
Finnegan’s medallion to the graduating Class of
2008 during commencement on Friday.
Photo by CRAIG BAILEY

Finnegan, who holds an honorary doctorate (1998) as well as a bachelor’s in business (1961) from Northeastern, retired from the banking industry after 30 years, and has served on numerous nonprofit boards. His passion for the history of Boston and of the university has informed his tenure on the board; for example, he was inspired to push for creation of a veterans memorial on campus while poring through university archives from the World War II era.

The Presidential Medallion, bearing the seal and Latin motto of Northeastern, will be a mark of the university’s pride in those whose energy and zeal help the university reach out to the community, who bring resources that are critical to our students, and who have made outstanding contributions in several walks of life.