The Peter E. Haas Public Service Award recognizes a UC Berkeley alum who has made significant and impactful contributions to the betterment of society within the United States through volunteering. It includes four major categories - community/social service, healthcare, the environment, and education - and especially acknowledges grassroots activities that illustrate the broad impact one individual can have in inspiring creative social change across communities.
Martha A. Ryan M.P.H. ’89 (2024, Community/Social Service) is a visionary leader who has dedicated her life to serving others and built a remarkable legacy based on this principle. A former nurse practitioner, she is the founder and former executive director of the Homeless Prenatal Program, a nationally recognized family resource center in San Francisco that empowers homeless and low-income families - particularly mothers motivated by pregnancy and parenthood - to find within themselves the strength and confidence they need to transform their lives. She started her professional life as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa, later returning there to work as a nurse in refugee camps in Uganda and Somalia. Her other awards include alumna of the year at Berkeley’s School of Public Health, a CNN Hero Award, and the James Irvine Leadership Award.