Viola Davis, Charles M. Royce, and Deborah Goodrich Royce will be awarded honorary degrees by the University of Rhode Island during Spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies.

The University will award the degrees on Saturday, May 18, at 10 a.m. at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus. Davis will be awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters, and the Royces will be awarded honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters.

• Viola Davis - A revered artist, activist, producer, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling author, Viola Davis is one of just 19 individuals to ever achieve EGOT status—a designation given to those who have won each of the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Read More
• Charles M. “Chuck” Royce - Charles M. "Chuck" Royce is chair and portfolio manager of Royce and Associates, LLP, a firm that he founded in 1972. He has served as a trustee for Brown University, establishing fellowships and professorships to support undergraduate teaching and research. Read More
• Deborah Goodrich Royce - A best-selling and award-winning author, Deborah Goodrich Royce is renowned for her thrillers that examine puzzles of identity. She also hosts Ocean House Author Series, a salon-style conversation that brings world-class authors to Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Read More