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Honorary Degrees

Overview

The first University of Washington honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, was conferred in 1885 by the territorial university to Orange Jacobs, who later became a local judge. Two years later, the UW conferred three doctor of divinity degrees to local religious ministers and in 1894 it granted an honorary doctor of philosophy degree to the editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Frederic James Grant. Between 1894 and 2002, the University awarded only one honorary degree. It was presented, in 1921, to French Marshal Ferdinand Foch, who led the Allied forces in World War I.

In 2002, the Faculy Senate passed legislation that specified procedures for resuming the practice of awarding honorary degrees, with the responsibility for recommending them vested in the Faculty Council on University Relations. Since that time, nine honorary degrees have been awarded.

Tutu

Desmond Mpilo Tutu

Doctor of Humane Letters

An Academic Convocation was held in May of 2002 to bestow a Doctor of Humane Letters on Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa and 1984 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Desmond Tutu was presented with an Honorary Degree and the Citation for the Honorary Degree.


Albright

Madeleine Korbel Albright

Doctor of Laws

During the 127th Commencement Ceremony in June of 2002 a Doctor of Laws was bestowed on Madeleine Korbel Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State. Madeleine Albright was presented with an Honorary Degree and the Citation for the Honorary Degree.


August Wilson

August Wilson

Doctor of Arts

During the 129th Commencement Ceremony in June of 2004 a Doctor of Arts was bestowed on August Wilson, playwright and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. August Wilson was presented with an Honorary Degreeand the Citation for the Honorary Degree.


Ruckelshaus

William D. Ruckelshaus

Doctor of Laws

During the 131st Commencement Ceremony in June of 2006 a Doctor of Laws was bestowed on William D. Ruckelshaus, a two time administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). William Ruckelshaus was presented with an Honorary Degree and the Citation for the Honorary Degree.

14th Dalai Lama

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Doctor of Humane Letters

An Academic Convocation was held on April 14, 2008 to bestow a Doctor of Humane Letters on Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet and was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1989. He was presented with an Honorary Degreeand the Citation for the Honorary Degree.



1941-42 Nikkei students

Japanese American students of 1941 & 1942

Bachelor of Arts

On May 18, 2008, honorary Bachelor of Arts degrees were bestowed on 450 former UW Japanese American students, who were forced to leave the University in 1942 following an executive order by President Franklin Roosevelt that led to the incarceration of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans on the west coast. In 1988 Congress passed a resolution which officially apologized for and redressed the injustices suffered by Japanese Americans due to this order. Honorees were presented with mementos containing the Citation for the Honorary Degree, special stoles (seen worn by the honorees in the photo above), and copies of The Fountain and the Mountain, a history, with beautiful photos, of the UW campus. (Click on photo for enlarged image)

William H. Gates III

Quincy Delight Jones

Doctor of Humane Letters

At the 133rd University of Washington Commencement Ceremony, held on June 14, 2008, an honorary Doctor of Arts degree was conferred on Quincy Jones, legendaryt producer, arranger, composer, director and humanitarian. Mr. Jones was presented an Honorary Degree and Citation for the Honorary Degree.

 

William H. Gates

William H. Gates

Doctor of Humane Letters

At the 25th Freshman Convocation, on September 21, 2008, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters was conferred on William H. Gates, a co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Gates was presented an Honorary Degree and Citation for the Honorary Degree.

William H. Gates III

William H. Gates III

Doctor of Humane Letters

At the 25th Freshman Convocation, on September 21, 2008, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters was conferred on William H. Gates III, the founder and chairman of Microsoft Corporation and a co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Gates was presented an Honorary Degree and Citation for the Honorary Degree.

 

For more information contact:
Office of Ceremonies
(206) 543-2592
ceremony@u.washington.edu