The University of Michigan community is being asked to nominate individuals who have contributed to their field or society to be considered for honorary degrees.
“It is such a privilege to confer honorary degrees on those who emulate our ethos as a university — of who we are, and who we can aspire to be,” said President Santa J. Ono.
Nominees may be individuals who have advanced their field of endeavor in significant ways, or who have made compelling contributions to society.
The selection committee typically meets once in the fall and once in the spring to consider nominations. Although nominations can be submitted at any time, the nominating deadline for candidates to be considered for the 2024 Spring Commencement Exercises is 5 p.m. Oct. 16.
The committee, chaired by Rackham Graduate School Dean Michael J. Solomon, includes faculty members from the Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses, students and alumni, all of whom are appointed by the Board of Regents on the recommendation of the president.
“Our faculty, students, staff and alumni are ideally suited to bring forward honorary degree nominations because of their deep connections to our university and its mission,” Solomon said. “I invite all members of our community to consider nominating individuals who exemplify the ideals of our institution.”
U-M commencement speakers are typically drawn from the pool of those approved for honorary degrees.
Past U-M honorary degree recipients include musician Wynton Marsalis, physician and health adviser Anthony Fauci, President Barack Obama, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, journalist Christiane Amanpour, artist Michele Oka Doner, poet Rita Dove, neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta and economist Robert J. Shiller.
