Honorary Degrees
Each year at Commencement Ceremonies, in addition to conferring degrees upon thousands of undergraduate and graduate students, the Honorary Degrees are awarded to select individuals. The Honorary Degree recipients are those who have distinguished themselves through important contributions to the University, to the State of Rhode Island, or to the nation -- individuals who deserve to be honored by the University and who will bring honor to the University by accepting a URI degree.
For Commencement 2013, nominations must be received by October 26, 2012.
The individuals selected by the University and approved by the Board of Governors of Higher Education are awarded the doctoral degree, honoris causa, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. One of the nominees may be considered by the president and invited as a keynote speaker.
The Honorary Degree Committee considers nominations that have been received each year from the University community and the public. The General Faculty Committee and the parameters considered are described in the 11th Edition of the University Manual, section 5.60.10.
Honorary Degree Committee Members
- Donald DeHayes, Chair, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Kerrie Bennett, Interim Executive Director, Communications and Community Relations
- Michelle Curreri, Office of the President
- Laura Cunningham, Greenwich, CT
- Ann Danis, Music Department
- Louis Giancola, President & CEO, South County Hospital
- Bahram Nassersharif, Mechanical Engineering Department
- Jhodi Redlich, Department of Communications and Marketing
- Michael Vocino, University Library
- Student Representatives: To be confirmed.
- Staff: Donna Williams, Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
