The University of California President James B. Milliken has awarded the UC Presidential Medal to Joan and Sanford I. Weill, recognizing their significant service and support for the university in both the arts and sciences.
The award was presented during the 2025 Future of the Brain Summit at UC San Francisco on October 29, marking ten years since the founding of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. The event brought together chancellors and senior leaders from UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC San Francisco, as well as former UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D., and Brenda Drake.
“Joan and Sandy’s enormously thoughtful and generous spirit is laser-focused, practical, passionate and future-focused,” said Milliken during the ceremony. “They embody and inspire the ethos of public service that makes the University of California what it is. There are no two people more deserving of the University of California’s deepest appreciation than Sandy and Joan Weill.”
Joan and Sandy Weill have donated over $1 billion to educational and cultural institutions throughout their lives, with major contributions to several campuses within the University of California system. Their involvement includes serving on advisory boards at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCSF Foundation Board of Directors, and UCSF Health Executive Council.
Their philanthropy has notably advanced scientific research across these universities. At UCSF, their $185 million gift established the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. This institute brings together researchers and physicians to address complex challenges in brain science under the leadership of Stephen Hauser, M.D., whose work on multiple sclerosis received recognition with a 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences earlier this year.
A recent $100 million matching grant from the Weill Family Foundation also enabled the launch of the Weill Cancer Hub West—a partnership between UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Stanford Cancer Institute—aimed at accelerating cancer research discoveries.
UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood said: “Joan and Sandy Weill’s partnership, extraordinary in scale and enduring in purpose, has helped us reimagine what’s possible. Their friendship has sustained our pursuit of a better future, and their commitment has turned dreams into real and tangible breakthroughs.”
Another example is The Weill Neurohub—established in 2019 with a $106 million gift—which unites experts from UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, University of Washington, and Allen Institute to develop treatments for neurological diseases.
UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons highlighted their impact on campus: “Sandy and Joan have been outstanding partners for many years. Their leadership of and support for the Weill Neurohub, their tireless advocacy for career readiness among less-advantaged students, and their enthusiasm for sustaining the excellence of and access to offerings of Cal Performances are vitally important to our university. We have the highest respect for the Weill family’s commitment at Berkeley and throughout the UC system to better futures for all. They empower us to create and share world-improving knowledge, and at remarkable scale. UC Berkeley would not be the same epicenter of innovation, and icon of public higher education, that it is without the Weills’ support and partnership.”
The couple’s support extends into veterinary medicine at UC Davis through funding clinical trials such as those testing novel immunotherapy approaches for canine cancer patients like Lola—a golden retriever who recovered following treatment funded by their endowment.
UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May stated: “Joan and Sandy’s deeply held commitment to improving the health of all living beings leads them to champion not only human medicine but animal medicine as well, and advances the interconnectedness of the two fields. They are very deserving of the highest honor at the University of California where their vision helps us create a healthier world for all every day.”
Sanford I. Weill’s background includes leadership roles at American Express as president; Citigroup as chair & CEO; chairing his family foundation; founding National Academy Foundation; serving as president emeritus or honorary chair at organizations such as Carnegie Hall or Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose; he is also a member of American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Joan Weill served as chair emerita for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (with its theater named after her), co-chaired New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center’s Women’s Health Symposiums; was involved with Citymeals On Wheels; among other positions supporting women’s health initiatives.
Together they have previously received honors including: Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy (2009), Kennedy Center Award for Human Spirit (2017), Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy (2022).
