Golden Quill Alumni Excellence Award

Recognizing alumni achievement

Celebrating Mizzou alumni who exemplify the very best values of the university, the Jefferson Club Golden Quill Alumni Excellence Award recognizes alumni who exemplify the institution’s values of respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence. Selected annually through nominations from the Mizzou community, these honorees represent the enduring impact of a Mizzou education.

2026 Honorees

Jodi Cobb

Jodi Cobb stands among the most accomplished photographers of the last half-century, with a five-decade career defined by access, courage and global impact. She spent 30 years with National Geographic – where she remains the only woman ever to hold the title of staff field photographer – shaping the visual narrative of cultures and communities around the world. 

Renowned for illuminating places closed to outsiders, Cobb has reported from more than 75 countries, documenting both the resilience of the human spirit and the realities of injustice. Her work has earned some of journalism’s highest honors, including White House Photographer of the Year, as well as awards from Pictures of the Year International, World Press Photo and the National Press Photographers Association.  

Cobb earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Mizzou in 1968 and 1971, respectively. In 2012, the University of Missouri School of Journalism awarded her the Missouri Honor Medal in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field. She currently resides in Washington, D.C. 

Charles Harbert

Charles “Chuck” Harbert is a pioneering pharmaceutical scientist, whose work has improved the lives of millions worldwide. As leader of the chemistry team at Pfizer Central Research, he helped discover Zoloft, one of the most widely prescribed antidepressants in history. He currently serves as chief scientific officer emeritus of Dyve Biosciences.  

Over a distinguished 30-year career at Pfizer, Harbert held numerous senior research and development roles, retiring as vice president of U.S. exploratory development and strategic planning. In addition to his role in the development of Zoloft, he is an inventor or co-inventor on more than 30 pharmaceutical patents and the author or co-author of approximately 20 scientific publications. 

Harbert earned a doctorate in organic chemistry from Mizzou in 1967. He joined Pfizer in 1969 after two years of postdoctoral research at Stanford University. He received the Pfizer Central Research Achievement Award in 1999, and he and the Zoloft team earned the American Chemical Society Team Innovation Award in 2006. Harbert has written five Colorado history books. Mizzou honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999. He resides in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife, Kay. 

Rich Kinder

Rich Kinder transformed his leadership ability into one of the most influential careers in American energy. As co-founder and executive chairman of Kinder Morgan, he helped build one of North America’s largest energy infrastructure companies, which transports approximately 40% of the natural gas used in the U.S. 

Kinder’s impact extends well beyond business. He and his wife, Nancy, established the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at Mizzou, which has grown into a globally recognized, nonpartisan leader in the study of America’s founding principles and their enduring relevance. In their home of Houston and beyond, the Kinders are equally recognized for their philanthropic commitment to strengthening civic life, especially their efforts to expand and revitalize urban green spaces that enhance access and strengthen communities. 

A dedicated Mizzou alumnus, Kinder earned bachelor’s and law degrees in 1966 and 1968. As a student he served as student body president of the School of Law and chapter commander of Sigma Nu, was an editor of the law review and was inducted into the honor societies Omicron Delta Kappa and QEBH. After graduation, he served as a U.S. Army captain in Vietnam. Inducted into the Mizzou Hall of Fame in 2020, he continues to serve on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, including the Kinder Foundation.  

Ed Rapp

Ed Rapp’s legacy spans corporate leadership and transformative philanthropy. Over a 37-year career at Caterpillar, he rose to group president overseeing the company’s resource industries division, following earlier service as chief financial officer and other senior leadership roles. His strategic leadership earned broad respect across the organization and helped guide one of the world’s most respected manufacturing companies. 

After being diagnosed with ALS in 2015, Rapp turned personal adversity into purpose. He founded Stay Strong vs. ALS to accelerate research, advance assistive technologies and improve patient support. Since its founding, the organization has directed more than $24 million toward combating the disease. He also serves on the executive committee of ALS Finding a Cure, sits on the board of the Packard Center at Johns Hopkins and chairs the advisory board of Answer ALS, amplifying his impact across the global ALS community. 

A 1979 finance graduate of Mizzou, Rapp has served on the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business dean’s advisory board since 2005 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2023. In recognition of his enduring commitment to principled leadership and service, the college established the Edward J. Rapp Award for Leadership in his honor. He and his wife, Ann, reside in Cary, North Carolina.   

Past Recipients