Nancy Stroud, founding member and partner at the law offices of Lewis Stroud & Deutsch, has been recognized by the Government of Japan and awarded with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, one of the highest ranking civilian honors awarded to those who contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and other countries.

Stroud received the honor from Consul General of Japan for Florida Kenji Hirata at a ceremony held before the Annual Members Meeting of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Having lived in Fukuoka, Japan with her family for part of her childhood, she developed a personal connection with Japan that she later fostered by joining the Board of Directors at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.

From 1989 through 2012, Stroud held several important offices on the Board, including President from 1996 to 2000. Under her leadership, The Morikami, Inc. adopted its first $1 million budget, underwent expansion of the Japanese gardens, developed a master planning process to provide vision and policies for future programs, and strengthened the Board membership and Board governance to more actively involve Board members in fundraising and policy initiatives.

Stroud continues to contribute to the promotion of Japanese culture as a Wisdom Ring member and an active supporter of the Morikami. “By offering programs to teach and inspire, by its physical beauty, the Morikami inspires an appreciation of Japanese culture and in a broader sense an appreciation of our shared experiences as citizens in a diverse country and world,” Stroud said.

“Nancy Stroud truly deserves this honor,” said Consul General Hirata. “Her dedication to the financial and organizational growth of the Morikami during her tenure as President of the Board has provided many opportunities for Floridians to learn about the unique aspects of Japanese culture, and our shared history.”

Active in the community, Stroud has received the Cultural Arts Award in recognition of outstanding pro bono service to the citizens of Palm Beach County. She was also named a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners by the American Institute of Certified Planners in 2018, and received the National Planning Excellence Award for Best Practice from the American Planning Association in 2011.

After graduating from Springbrook High School in Maryland, Stroud received her undergraduate degree at Indiana University and her juris doctor and master of regional planning from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.

Click here for more information about the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami or call (305) 530-9090.