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Tepeyac Leadership, Inc. proudly announces the recipients of the 2026 St. Juan Diego Leadership for the World (SJLW) Award, recognizing distinguished Catholic leaders whose lives and professional accomplishments reflect a deep commitment to faith, service, leadership, and the common good.
Every year, the SJLW Award honors men and women who embody the spirit of missionary discipleship in the modern world. Through their witness in professional, civic, academic, apostolic, and cultural life, these leaders inspire others to live their Catholic faith with courage, excellence, and generosity.
The 2026 awardees will be recognized during The Hour of the Laity 2026 in Mexico City, as part of Tepeyac Leadership’s ongoing mission to form and inspire lay Catholic leaders for service in the Church and society.
Marilyn E. Coors, Ph.D.
Marilyn E. Coors, Ph.D., recently retired from a robust career in Bioethics at the Center for Bioethics and Humanities and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She is widely recognized for her distinguished career in bioethics, education, and Catholic leadership.
Her work focused on the ethical issues surrounding clinical and behavioral genomic research, an area where she became a respected voice in both academic and Catholic circles.
Throughout her career, Dr. Coors has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advancing the dignity of the human person and promoting ethical integrity in medicine and scientific research. Her leadership has extended well beyond academia through service on numerous boards and institutions dedicated to Catholic education, healthcare, and evangelization.
She previously served on the Boards of Directors of the Augustine Institute, the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Saint John Vianney Seminary, and the Gates Institute for Regenerative Medicine. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors of ENDOW, Marisol Health, and From Silence to Saved.
Dr. Coors earned her undergraduate degree in biological sciences from Cornell University before completing an M.S. in cytogenetics, an M.A. in ethics and religion, and a Ph.D. in bioethics at the University of Denver.
Dr. Coors is actively involved in parish ministries at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Denver, Colorado. She and her husband, Peter, are the proud parents of six adult children and grandparents to fifteen grandchildren. Pete and Marilyn recently received the Benemerenti Medal awarded by the Holy See in recognition of distinguished service to the Catholic Church.
Mitch Boersma
Mitch Boersma is Co Founder and President of the Leonine Forum and Executive Vice President of the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C. Through his work in leadership formation, intellectual engagement, and evangelization, he has become an influential voice in helping form Catholic leaders for public life.
Prior to his current leadership roles, Boersma held research positions at the American Enterprise Institute and worked as an independent writer and researcher on several major book projects. His career has consistently reflected a commitment to cultivating thoughtful Catholic engagement in culture, public policy, and civic life.
Boersma serves on the Board of Visitors for The Catholic University of America School of Theology and Religious Studies, chairs the speakers committee for the Napa Institute, and is a Tertio Millennio Seminar Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Dallas, a Master’s degree in Moral Theology and Ethics from The Catholic University of America, and an Executive Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame.
His writings have appeared in numerous secular and religious publications, including RealClearReligion, EWTN, Legatus Magazine, Fox News, The Stream, Verily Magazine, and National Review Online.
Boersma and his wife, Rosie, live in Fairfax, Virginia with their six children.
Continuing the Mission
The SJLW Award reflects Tepeyac Leadership’s commitment to recognizing faithful Catholic leaders who use their gifts and influence to advance human dignity, strengthen communities, and bring the light of Christ into the world.
By honoring exemplary leaders from diverse professional and apostolic backgrounds, Tepeyac Leadership seeks to inspire a new generation of Catholic professionals to embrace leadership as a vocation rooted in service, virtue, and faith.
About Tepeyac Leadership, Inc.
Tepeyac Leadership, Inc. is a Catholic nonprofit organization dedicated to the formation of lay Catholic leaders through leadership development, faith formation, networking, and civic engagement. Inspired by the example of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe, TLI seeks to form leaders committed to transforming society through faithful witness and professional excellence.
P.S. Discover the place where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego. See her image. And join Archbishop José Gómez, Bishop Thomas Olmsted and Bishop Timothy Freyer for The Hour of the Laity 2026 in Mexico City.
