John L. Hennessy

John Hennessy smiling and wearing a dark suit, white shirt and red tie

John L. Hennessy

John Hennessy served as Stanford's tenth president from 2000 – 2016.

Latest updates

How Knight-Hennessy scholars learn to lead through storytelling

Weekly storytelling sessions help scholars find their voice, connect with others, and lead with empathy.

September 02, 2025
Knight-Hennessy Scholars announces 2025 cohort of new scholars

The 2025 cohort of Knight-Hennessy scholars represents 25 countries and 46 graduate degree programs across Stanford University.

May 13, 2025
How the Denning House art collection builds community and supports leadership development

"Art often embodies ambiguity and nuance and allows us to experience difficult issues in a different way," Knight-Hennessy Scholars Director John Hennessy said.

April 03, 2025

About John L. Hennessy

John L. Hennessy is the Co-Founder and Shriram Family Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, the largest fully endowed graduate-level scholarship program in the world. He is Chairman of the Board of Alphabet and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Formerly the tenth President of Stanford University, he is also a computer scientist who co-founded MIPS Computer Systems and Atheros Communications. He co-won the National Academy of Engineering’s Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering in 2022; shared the 2017 ACM A.M. Turing Prize with Dave Patterson; and received the 2012 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Medal of Honor.

See also
Knight-Hennessy Scholars