MA program alumnus Ábel Ravasz has been selected as the recipient of the GSAS Outstanding Recent Alumni Award for 2026.
The Outstanding Recent Alumni Award honors individuals who have graduated within the past fifteen years and have excelled in the early stages of their careers, exemplifying what GSAS alumni can achieve. Since 2015, this award has been presented annually to one doctoral graduate and one master’s graduate. You can learn more about the various GSAS Alumni Awards here.
Ábel is currently the president of the Matthias Bel Institute, a Slovakia-based independent research think tank that that focuses on minority policies, regional development, and social inclusion. Since graduating from Columbia, Ábel has worked to advance minority rights and evidence-based policymaking across Slovakia and Central Europe. His award letter references how, through national leadership roles and innovative institutional building, he has "translated sociological insight into durable policy change with lasting positive impact."
Asked about the influence of the MA program on his subsequent efforts, Ábel noted that "I used my time in the Columbia sociology program to embed my practical work with minority groups in relevant contemporary sociological concepts. The program deepened my analytical grounding in minority rights and inequality, influencing how I approach research and public service in pursuit of meaningful, evidence-based policy change."
GSAS dean Carlos Alonso will formally present Ábel with the award at the 2026 GSAS Awards Dinner and Reception on April 21, 2026.
Congratulations, Ábel! We're honored to have you as an alumnus of the department.
