Honorary Degree award recipients are accomplished and renowned in their field. Each has demonstrated an outstanding performance in a field of interest to the university.
June 2023
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Princess Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Mangkubumi, of Indonesia. Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 2022
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Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State. Founder of the Jesse White Tumbling Team in 1959. Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 2021
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Anthony Williams, friend of the NIU School of Music and world-renowned innovator, performer, technician, bandleader and arranger of the steel pan. Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D) |
May 2020
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Sherret S. Chase, Ph.D. in genetics at Cornell University (1947). Developed techniques in plant breeding via haploids, doubled haploids, and hybrids for the DeKalb Agricultural Association (locally known as the DeKalb Ag). |
December 2019
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Dean Thomas DuCray, NIU Alum (Accountancy '64, M.S., '69), established the DuCray Excellence Fund in the NIU Department of Accountancy |
May 2019
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Marcia Grant, distinguished nurse researcher and friend of NIU School of Nursing |
December 2017
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Vullnet Ameti, Rector of the State University of Tetovo and proponent of |
May 2017
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Clifford Alexis, renowned steelpan musician and retired member of the NIU School of Music |
December 2016
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James Fruchterman, Founder and CEO of Benetech |
May 2016
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Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core |
May 2015
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Nigel Lockyer, Director, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |
December 2014
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Frances Whitehead, a civic practice artist and Professor of Sculpture and Architecture School of the Art Institute of Chicago Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 2014
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John Sall, Co-founder and Executive Vice President, SAS Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
September 2013
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Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 2013
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Layli Miller-Muro, Executive Director of the Tahirih Justice Center Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 2011
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Eric Isaacs, Director of Argonne National Laboratory Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
May 2011
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Leeland Strom, Chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 2010
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L. Tammy Duckworth, Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
December 2007
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Robert Rosner, Director, Argonne National Laboratory Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
December 2007
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Abraham Verghese, Director, Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics University of Texas Health Sciences Center Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 2003
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Hermann A. Grunder, Director, Argonne National Laboratory Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
May 2001
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Herbert C. Brown, eminent chemist Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
May 1998
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Tashia F. Morgridge, protagonist for child welfare and development and friend of the NIU College of Education Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 1998
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John P. Morgridge, leader in the information-technology industry and friend of the NIU College of Education Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 1997
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Robert B. Morris, distinguished public administrator and professional mentor Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) |
December 1996
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Arthur Schlesinger Jr., distinguished historian Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
December 1995
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Paul Simon, United States Senator and advocate for persons with disabilities Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
September 1995
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Carl Sagan, astronomer and promoter of scientific literacy Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
May 1994
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Sanford Meisner, eminent acting teacher Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
December 1993
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Lucien H. Stryk, eminent poet and teacher, and retired member of the NIU Department of English Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.) |
December 1992
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Raya Garbousova, eminent cellist and teacher, and retired member of the NIU School of Music faculty Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 1992
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Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet Laureate of Illinois Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.) |
December 1991
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Alan Schriesheim, Director, Argonne National Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
May 1991
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Robert W. Galvin, Chairman of the Board, Motorola, Inc. Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
December 1990
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Ardis Krainik, General Director, Lyric Opera of Chicago Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
August 1990
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Margaret ("Maggie") Kuhn, Founder, Gray Panthers Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
October 1989
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Mstislav Rostropovich, Music Director, National Symphony Orchestra; eminent conductor, cellist, and human-rights advocate Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 1989
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Walter E. Massey; Vice President for Research and for Argonne National Laboratory at the University of Chicago; President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
May 1988
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Harry A. Blackmun; Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and friend of the NIU College of Law Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) |
May 1987
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Samuel Goldich, eminent Geologist and retired member of the NIU Department of Geology. Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
May 1986
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Cyril O. Houle, Senior Program Consultant, W.K. Kellog Foundation and friend of the NIU Adult Continuing Education Program. Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
August 1985
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Louis Bellson, eminent drummer and benefactor of the NIU School of Music Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 1984
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Lawrence A. Cremin, President, Teachers College, Columbia University Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) |
May 1983
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Leon Lederman, Director, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and recipient of the Wolf Prize in Physics and later Nobel laureate in physics Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) |
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