Types of Honorary Degrees
Doctor of Humane Letters recognizes an individual for their scholarly work of a somewhat restricted nature.
Doctor of Laws recognizes an individual for their general service to learning and mankind; it is not reserved only for individuals in the legal profession.
Doctor of Public Service recognizes an individual who has made distinguished contributions and performed exemplary service to the public.
Doctor of Science recognizes an individual who has made distinguished contributions and performed professional services in the sciences.
(In years when there were multiple honorary degree recipients, they are listed in alphabetical order. An asterisk* means the honoree also was the Commencement keynote speaker.)
2024
Dennis Brave, DDS '69 — Science
Therese S. Richmond, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN — Public Service
Ralph F. "Rick" Shangraw Jr., PhD, MPA — Science
2023
Shirley Ann Nathan-Pulliam, MAS, BSN '80, RN, FAAN — Public Service
Martha Somerman, DDS, PhD — Science
2022
Christine Grady, PhD, MSN — Public Service
*Anthony S. Fauci, MD — Public Service
2021
William and Joanne Conway — Public Service
Calvin Knowlton, BScPharm, MDiv, PhD '93 — Science
Francis G. "Frank" Serio, DMD, MS '91, MBA — Science
Ralph Snyderman, MD — Science
Shale Stiller, LLB, MLA — Laws
2020
No honorees due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019
Victoria G. Hale, BSP '83, PhD — Science
Philip Needleman, PhD '64, MS — Science
2018
Mary Catherine Bunting, MS '72, CRNP — Public Service
Carolyn Frenkil — Public Service
Venice K. Paterakis, DDS '81, and Fred G. Smith, DDS '78, MS — Public Service
2017
Peter G. Angelos, JD — Public Service
Ellen M. Heller, JD — Laws
*William P. Magee Jr., DDS, MD — Public Service
2016
Freda Lewis-Hall, MD, DFAPA — Science
Wendy R. Sherman, MSW '76 — Public Service
2015
Kermit R. Crawford, MD — Science
Robert S. Langer, ScD — Science
Esther McCready, MM, BM, DIN '53 — Public Service
2014
Geraldine "Polly" Bednash, PhD, RN, FAAN — Public Service
Michael Cryor, MS — Public Service
Jack Shonkoff, MD — Public Service
2013
Robert M. Bell, JD — Laws
Janet Woodcock, MD — Science
2012
Peter I. Buerhaus, PhD, RN, FAAN — Science
2011
Linda H. Aiken, PhD, FAAN, FRCN, RN — Science
Clinton Bamberger, JD — Laws
2010
Morton I. Rapport, MD — Public Service
2009
Richard J. Himelfarb, JD — Public Service
2008
*Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD — Public Service
Virginia K. Saba, EdD, RN, FAAN — Science
2007
Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP — Science
2006
Harry J. Aponte, MSW, LCSW — Public Service
Jordan J. Cohen, MD — Science
2005
Michael R. Cohen, RPh, MS, ScD — Public Service
Willard Hackerman — Public Service
Gale S. Pollock, MBA, MHA, MS, CRNA, FACHE — Public Service
2004
Mary Louise Andersen, BSP — Public Service
*Tim Russert — Public Service
2003
Guido Calabresi, LLB, MA — Public Service
*Anthony S. Fauci, MD — Public Service
Hubie Jones, MSW — Public Service
2002
*John M. Gregory, RPh — Public Service
Robert B. Hill, PhD — Public Service
Ruth L. Kirschstein, MD — Science
2001
*Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, JD — Public Service
Nancy K. Kopp, MA — Public Service
Bert W. O'Malley Sr., MD — Science
2000
Barbara A. Hoffman, MLA — Public Service
Howard "Pete" Rawlings, MS — Public Service
*David Satcher, MD, PhD — Science
