Call for Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Nominations

Nominations are now being accepted for individuals to be considered for honorary degrees and commencement speakers. These honorary degree awards, presented at spring commencement, recognize careers of extraordinary accomplishment that have benefitted society through intellectual, artistic, scientific, professional, or public service contributions.

We invite faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university to submit nominations of distinguished individuals whose achievements exemplify excellence and impact. Nominees should not currently hold public office or currently be running for office, have controversial or polarizing histories, represent lobby groups, or be under legal investigation.

Nominations should include:

• The nominee’s full name and contact information
• Documentation of their accomplishments and educational background
• Please submit nominations through this form by October 27

Honorary degrees are among the highest recognitions our institution can bestow, and your nominations play an important role in identifying individuals who inspire and reflect the values of our university.

We are also seeking recommendations for our spring commencement speaker. This is your opportunity to suggest an inspiring individual(s) who embodies the values of our institution and can deliver a memorable address to our graduating class. This is in addition to the student commencement speakers.

The university seeks to invite individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their fields and who have made significant contributions to society and who represent various backgrounds and viewpoints.

Potential speakers should meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Achievement: Recognized for significant accomplishments in a field such as academia, business, arts, science, government, activism, or philanthropy.
• Inspiration: Capable of delivering an inspiring, relevant, and engaging message to graduates.
• Alignment with Values: The speaker’s work and public positions should align with the university's mission and core values.

Speakers may not currently hold public office or currently be running for office, individuals with controversial or polarizing histories, individuals representing lobby groups, or individuals under legal investigation.

To submit recommendations, please fill out this form by October 27. For complete guidelines and more information on this process, visit the commencement website.