On Homecoming weekend, the Butler University Alumni Association honored eight individuals for their commitment to the University and to their communities. The highest of these honors, The Butler Medal, recognizes profound influence that has helped Butler continue to thrive as a leading educational and cultural institution.

The Butler Medal: Dan Cooreman ’76

Dan Cooreman has devoted his life to advancing journalism, mentoring the next generation of storytellers, and strengthening the Butler University community through leadership, service, and philanthropy.

A proud Butler graduate and retired staff editor for The New York Times, Cooreman’s decades of professional excellence and volunteer commitment reflect both his passion for Butler University and his belief in the transformative power of education.

Cooreman’s professional journey began at The Butler Collegian, where he served as Editor-in-Chief. That experience set the course for a career defined by journalistic rigor, integrity, and mentorship. After an internship led to his first editing role at The South Bend Tribune, he would also serve at The Birmingham (Ala.) Post-Herald and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The last 22 years of his career were at The New York Times, where he specialized in financial news. His Times colleague, Jeff Sommer, Columnist and Senior Staff Editor, captures Dan’s impact best.

“How good is he? Well, honestly, when I first began to comprehend the quality of his editing work by seeing it from the inside, I was startled. I’m an old pro myself and thought I already knew my way around a comma. But Dan was, and is, extraordinary in his focus, literacy, and mastery of the nuances of English syntax and usage. He’s a gentleman and never needed to raise his voice or insist on the correctness of his views, because they were always and invariably so obviously correct.”

Cooreman’s commitment to Butler has been constant and wide-ranging. He served a four-year term on the Butler University Alumni Association (BUAA) Board, where he contributed to the membership committee and helped expand the board’s geographic reach, ensuring alumni voices from across the country were represented.

Since 2014, he has also been a cornerstone of the College of Communication Dean’s Advisory Board, where he currently serves as Chair. His leadership has provided continuity and encouragement, says Dean Joe Valenzano.

“His efforts as Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board have helped increase annual giving to the College by almost 100 percent in the last two years, and he has helped lead that group of alumni in being advocates and engaged participants in the lives of CCOM students.”

Beyond these roles, Cooreman has invested deeply in making Butler more inclusive and connected. As an active member of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Association Steering Committee, he partners with Butler Alliance, the student LGBTQIA+ group, to create programming that bridges alumni and students. For many years, he organized outings to the Indy LGBT Film Festival, creating opportunities for community and celebration.

“Personally, Dan inspires me to give back to Butler in meaningful ways,” says Chris Beaman ’12, Chair of the Butler LGBTQ+ Alumni Association Steering Committee. “His passion, energy, and belief in the power of alumni to enrich the lives of current students and the broader community serve as a constant reminder of the lasting impact we can have when we invest in our shared alma mater.”

Cooreman has also played a key role in building Butler’s regional community presence. A longtime member of the Greater New York Butler Community Steering Committee, he has served as Vice Chair and Communications Chair, planning alumni gatherings, spearheading annual service projects, and mentoring students pursuing New York-area opportunities. Whether arranging basketball watch parties or supporting students on service trips, he has consistently found ways to bring Butler pride to life in New York City.

Supporting Butler students remains at the heart of Cooreman’s service. He established an endowed scholarship in memory of his parents, August and Esther Cooreman, awarded annually to a Journalism major on The Butler Collegian staff. He also meets regularly with student editors to discuss the evolving media landscape and serves as a career mentor through the CCOM Network. His approach to mentoring is marked by humility, often noting that he learns as much from his mentees as they learn from him.

In 2022, Cooreman and his husband, Steve Turner, were inducted into the Carillon Society, recognizing donors with lifetime giving of $100,000 or more. Their generosity ensures that future generations of students benefit from the same opportunities that shaped Cooreman’s own life.

2025 Alumni Award Recipients

• Katharine Merrill Graydon Alumni Service Award: Cynthia A. Payne ’05
• The Butler Service Medal: Dr. Kate Morris
• Mortar Award: Lori J. Ziemba ’82 and Kenneth M. Massaroni ’83
• The Butler Medal: Dan Cooreman ’76
• Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award: Trey Meehan ’14
• The Robert Todd Duncan Alumni Achievement Award: Jasmine D. Gonzalvo PharmD ’05
• Foundation Award: Chris Beaman ’12 and Jeremy Sheetz
• Hilton Ultimus Brown Alumni Achievement Award: Ben “K’uyáang” Young ’14