On Monday, May 6, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, former chairman and chief executive officer of Carlson, accepted the Public Leadership Award for International Human Rights and Justice from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, as part of its 11th annual Humphrey Public Leadership Awards ceremony. The Humphrey Public Leadership Award honors remarkable individuals and institutions that have taken extraordinary measures to advance human welfare in the context of globalization.  

“It is a distinct honor to present this award to Marilyn Carlson Nelson,” said Eric Schwartz, dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. “Marilyn's remarkable efforts to vindicate the rights and well-being of victims of human trafficking, to promote women's empowerment, and to stand for the principles of corporate responsibility, has impacted the lives of people throughout the world. As importantly, it has set a standard for others in the private sector in the United States and in other nations,” he added.  

Marilyn received this honor for her corporate leadership in combating modern slavery through the adoption and promotion of business practices that seek to protect victims of human trafficking, and the development of proactive measures to train employees and encourage the broader business community to take a stand against human trafficking.  

“Carlson’s consistent and long-standing efforts to combat human trafficking have made our company a pioneer in this area, and while it is an honor to be recognized by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs for our efforts, the fight has just begun,” said Marilyn. “As Carlson continues to do its part, it is my fervent hope that our work will inspire others to join us in combating this crucial, global issue.”

In April of this year, Carlson was also recognized for its efforts in this area with the first-ever Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons, during a ceremony at the White House that was part of the White House Forum to Combat Human Trafficking.

Marilyn recently spoke about her ongoing commitment to this cause, her broader work as a human rights advocate, and her recent retirement as Carlson’s chairman with broadcast journalist Amelia Santaniello, from the CBS affliliate WCCO in the Twin Cities.

Click here to watch the full interview and read the accompanying news story.