Four Indian Americans have been honored in Carnegie’s 2026 Great Immigrants list for their significant contributions to various fields, including business, medicine, and academia.
Four Indian Americans have been recognized in the Andrew Carnegie Foundation’s 2026 Great Immigrants, Great Americans list, celebrating their impactful contributions to business, medicine, science, technology, and academia. This prestigious honor highlights the achievements of 25 naturalized U.S. citizens from diverse backgrounds.
The Indian American honorees include Nikesh Arora, chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks; Mahzarin Banaji, a distinguished social psychologist and professor at Harvard University; Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School; and Reshma Kewalramani, president and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Announced just ahead of the United States’ 250th Independence Day celebrations, this annual recognition honors immigrants whose work has made a lasting impact on American society. This year’s class features 25 naturalized citizens representing 21 countries, excelling in various fields such as business, medicine, science, engineering, arts, and public service.
Established over two decades ago, the Great Immigrants, Great Americans initiative pays tribute to those who have made exceptional contributions after becoming U.S. citizens. The program reflects the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-born industrialist and philanthropist who immigrated to the United States and became one of the nation’s most influential benefactors.
Among the honorees, Nikesh Arora has built one of the world’s leading cybersecurity companies, following senior leadership roles at Google and SoftBank. Mahzarin Banaji is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking research on implicit bias and social cognition, which has significantly influenced psychology, education, and public policy globally.
Dr. Sanjiv Chopra is acknowledged for his expertise as a physician, educator, and liver disease specialist at Harvard Medical School. Reshma Kewalramani has led Vertex Pharmaceuticals through notable advancements in biotechnology and precision medicine, establishing herself as a prominent figure in the pharmaceutical industry.
This Carnegie honor underscores the increasing influence of Indian Americans across sectors that shape the U.S. economy and innovation landscape. Notable previous recipients include Sundar Pichai, Shantanu Narayen, Ashish Jha, Abhijit Banerjee, Vivek Murthy, and Gita Gopinath, reflecting the community’s expanding role in technology, healthcare, academia, and public service.
In announcing this year’s honorees, the Andrew Carnegie Foundation emphasized the ongoing contributions immigrants make to the United States. This recognition coincides with the nation’s preparations to commemorate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Foundation President Dame Louise Richardson stated that the honorees exemplify the talent, leadership, and innovation that immigrants bring to American society.
The four Indian American recipients will be celebrated as part of the foundation’s annual Fourth of July Great Immigrants campaign, which has honored over 790 naturalized citizens from more than 120 countries since its inception in 2006, according to The American Bazaar.