Class of '25 - The Visionary Leadership Award 

The Visionary Leadership Award recognizes an alumnus who sees possibilities beyond the present and inspires others toward a stronger future through bold ideas, thoughtful leadership and meaningful action.

Laurie Jadwin has served as mayor of the City of Gahanna since January 2020. An attorney and longtime Gahanna resident, she has led the community through a period of significant growth, investment and transformation.

Her leadership has emphasized thoughtful economic development, regional collaboration, sustainability and the creation of a strong, distinctive sense of place. Among the initiatives highlighted in her nominations were the revitalization of Creekside, development of Gahanna’s new Civic Center, the “Our Gahanna” strategic vision and the City’s Energy Plus community-choice aggregation program.

Jadwin’s nominators particularly emphasized her ability to connect long-term vision with collaborative and inclusive leadership.

“Laurie’s vision for the city—and her cooperative, collegial approach to leadership—is producing outcomes that will outlive her tenure as mayor,” one nominator wrote. “Laurie is a strong, yet open, leader who listens, assesses, and casts a vision that people of all persuasions and perspectives can grasp and support.”