Honorary Degrees 2007

Brown University’s Ruth Simmons receives honorary degree at George Washington U commencement, 2002

Commencement season is at hand, and colleges across the nation are preparing to celebrate the achievements of their graduating students. In addition to colorful regalia, solemn processions, weeping parents, and stately marches, colleges will also mark this moment by awarding honorary degrees to noted community, national, and international leaders. Among the honorees at this year’s commencement celebrations, you will find these distinguished African American and Afro-diasporic scholars, artists, and visionaries (the awarding institution is listed beside each name):

• Johnetta B. Cole — outgoing President, Bennett College — (University of Arkansas)
• Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf — the first Black woman President of Liberia — (Spelman College)
• Ruth J. Simmons — President of Brown University — (Spelman College)
• Elaine R. Jones — first Black woman president, NAACP Legal Defense Fund — (Spelman College)
• Dionne Warwick — noted vocalist — (Columbia College, Chicago)
• Shirley Franklin — Mayor of Atlanta — (Oglethorpe University)
• Monica Kaufman Pearson — broadcast news pioneer — (Oglethorpe University)
• Henry Greenridge — pastor, Irvington Covenant Church — (North Park Theological Seminary)
• Anna Deveare Smith — actress, playwright — (Bates College)
• Corey Harris — blues guitarist — (Bates College)
• Immaculée Ilibagiza — author — (University of Notre Dame)
• Willie Mays — member, baseball hall of fame — (Dartmouth College)
• John A. Rich— professor, Drexel University — (Dartmouth College)

…and more to come…

 Posted by Ajuan Mance