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Honorary Degrees

The Honor Is Ours

The University of Dayton intentionally recognizes, through the conferral of honorary doctoral degrees, individuals of extraordinary and distinguished achievement who exemplify the University's mission, aspirations and institutional values.

Those individuals who receive honorary doctoral degrees from the University have selflessly served the Catholic Church, the city of Dayton, the Miami Valley, the United States or the world. The University's honorary degree recipients are worthy role models for the University community of faculty, staff, alumni and especially students.

Facts and Figures

13

types of honorary degrees

225

honorary degrees awarded

Nominations

UD recognizes individuals of extraordinary achievement and service who exemplify the University's Catholic and Marianist mission, aspirations and institutional values.
Explore the Nomination Process
Photo of students during graduation ceremony
About Honorary Degrees

Degrees Awarded

The honorary degrees granted at the University of Dayton include:

  • Doctor of Business Administration
  • Doctor of Divinity
  • Doctor of Education
  • Doctor of Engineering
  • Doctor of Fine Arts
  • Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Doctor of Humanities
  • Doctor of Laws
  • Doctor of Letters
  • Doctor of Music
  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Doctor of Science
  • Doctor of Theology

Past Recipients

Recipients of honorary degrees must exemplify the Catholic and Marianist traditions and the values of the University. They also must manifest a significant association with the University or its mission. The University uses the bestowing of honorary degrees to demonstrate and reinforce the importance of taking an active role in community leadership and service.

Honorary degrees are awarded typically at major university events and ceremonies, including convocations, symposia, public lectures and commencements.

Honorary Degree Recipients

Past Honorary Degree Recipients
NAME DEGREE YEAR
Lucinda W. Adams Doctor of Education 1997
Bro. Vianney Byeong Cho Ahn, S.M. Doctor of Education 1999
Stanley C. Allyn Doctor of Humanities 1954
Most Rev. Karl J. Alter, D.D. Doctor of Humanities 1955
William S. Anderson Doctor of Humanities 1985
Monsignor Harry J. Ansbury Doctor of Humanities 1963
Dr. James A. Averdick Bachelor of Arts 1901
Dr. James A. Averdick Doctor of Laws 1928
Major Charles V. Bacon Chemical Engineering 1919
Walter E. Baker Doctor of Science 1979
Arnolda Helmig Becker Doctor of Humanities 1953
Honorable Edwin G. Becker Doctor of Laws 1939
Lori Hinnenkamp Beer Doctor of Science 2022
Monsignor Ralph Beiting Doctor of Humane Letters 2004
The Most Rev. Joseph L. Bernardine, D.D. Doctor of Humane Letters 1973
John W. Berry Doctor of Humane Letters 1989
Edward A. Blumenthal Mechanical Engineering 1927
Matthias N. Blumenthal Electrical Engineering 1919
Jeraldyne Blunden Doctor of Fine Arts 1990
Debra L. Blunden-Diggs Doctor of Fine Arts 2025
Erma Fiste Bombeck Doctor of Humane Letters 1981
George Robert Bowers Doctor of Education 1977
Ernest L. Boyer, Ph.D. Doctor of Education 1984
Henry A. Breucker M.S. Education 1929
Jane M. Britt Doctor of Humanities 1997
Simon Burick Doctor of Humane Letters 1977
Monsignor Edward F. Burke Doctor of Philosophy 1923
Edward R. Burroughs Doctor of Fine Arts 1978
Harry C. Busch Bachelor of Arts 1907
Edward L. Buscher, M.D. Doctor of Science 1988
Milton A. Caniff Doctor of Fine Arts 1979
Terry D. Carder Doctor of Humane Letters 1996
Sister Bernadette Marie Cashen, S.N.D. Doctor of Education 1956
Victor J. Cassano Sr. Doctor of Business Administration 1998
Archbishop Elias Chacour Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa 2011
Joseph E. Chope Doctor of Humanities 1970
Julien M. Christensen, Ph.D. Doctor of Science 1989
Rev. George Clements Doctor of Humane Letters 1991
Major General Cecil E. Combs Doctor of Education 1962
Larry Connor Doctor of Humane Letters 2005
James G. Conzelman Master of Science 1943
James M. Cox Sr. Doctor of Humanities 1952
Bro. John T. Darby, S.M. Doctor of Education 1962
Willis Bing Davis Doctor of Fine Arts 1994
Colonel Edward A. Deeds Doctor of Humanities 1952
Major General Joseph T. Dickman Doctor of Laws 1923
Sister M. Innocenta Donnelly, S.F.P. Doctor of Humanities 1958
Rev. Avery Dulles, S.J. Doctor of Theology 1992
Rev. Gerald W. E. Dunne Doctor of Letters 1928
Thomas F. Eagleton Doctor of Laws 1982
Charity A. Earley Doctor of Humane Letters 1991
Rev. William Egan Doctor of Philosophy 1926
Charles P. Eisenhauer Mechanical Engineering 1924
Victor Emanuel Doctor of Laws 1928
Ramón Estévez Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa 2015
Rev. William J. Ferree, S.M. Doctor of Humane Letters 1978
Harry F. Finke Civil Engineering 1918
Samuel L. Finn Doctor of Humanities 1957
Judge Arthur O. Fisher Doctor of Laws 1996
Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M. Doctor of Humanities 2022
Perry T. Ford Doctor of Engineering 1941
Robert B. French Doctor of Education 1956
Paul E. Garber Doctor of Engineering 1979
Norman L. Gebhart Doctor of Humanities 1974
Dr. Jo A. Geiger Doctor of Education 1992
Michael J. Gibbons Doctor of Laws 1933
Huber W. Gillaugh Doctor of Humanities 1961
Governor John J. Gilligan Doctor of Humanities 1971
Judge James J. Gilvary Doctor of Humane Letters 1993
Dr. Phillip Gleason Doctor of Humanities 2011
James E. Grimes Civil Engineering 1918
Tony P. Hall Doctor of Humane Letters 2025
John W. Harewood Doctor of Education 1988
Sister Jean Patrice Harrington, S.C. Doctor of Education 1999
Thomas F. Hart Mechanical Engineering 1927
Jessie Scott Hathcock Doctor of Humanities 1978
Ronita Hawes-Saunders Doctor of Fine Arts 2019
Mathias Heck, Esq. Doctor of Humane Letters 1994
John F. Herkenhoff Doctor of Humanities 1957
Martin J. Hillenbrand Doctor of Letters 1963
John Hiller Civil Engineering 1919
Monsignor F.G. Hochwalt Doctor of Laws 1948
Carroll A. Hochwalt Doctor of Science 1935
Albert F. Hochwalt Doctor of Letters 1925
Rev. Paul J. Hoffer, S.M. Doctor of Education 1965
Honorable Timothy Hogan Doctor of Laws 1925
Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Doctor of Humane Letters 1998
Arthur S. Holden Jr. Doctor of Education 1982
David R. Holmes Doctor of Humane Letters 2001
Joseph W. Holters Electrical Engineering 1923
George K. Houghtailing Civil Engineering 1945
Andrew S. Iddings Doctor of Humanities 1957
Honorable Takajiro Inoue Doctor of Laws 1959
Isaiah Jackson Jackson Doctor of Music 1999
Richard J. Jacob Doctor of Humane Letters 1987
Leon Jaworski Doctor of Laws 1980
Isaac H. Jones Doctor of Humanities 1962
Rev. Francis J. Jung, S.M. Doctor of Letters 1936
Dorothy Kammerer, C.P.P.S. Doctor of Humane Letters 1997
Paul Katz Doctor of Music 1961
Robert J. Kegerreis Doctor of Education 1985
Joseph E. Keller, Esq. Doctor of Humane Letters 1991
Emil H. Kessler Doctor of Science 1936
Virginia W. Kettering Doctor of Humanities 1966
Eugene W. Kettering Doctor of Humanities 1961
Charles F. Kettering Doctor of Humanities 1952
William A. Keyes Doctor of Laws 1929
Ursula M. King Doctor of Divinity 2003
Rev. Theodore A. Koehler, S.M. Doctor of Humanities 1987
Robert C. Koepnick Doctor of Humanities 1995
E.J. (Joe) Koestner Doctor of Science 1986
Bernard F. Kroger Chemical Engineering 2001
Peter H. Kuntz Doctor of Humane Letters 1992
Martin Charles Kuntz Doctor of Humanities 1953
Bro. Elmer C. Lackner, S.M. Doctor of Humanities 1976
Emerson H. Landis Doctor of Education 1941
Edward C. Larkin Civil Engineering 1924
Dolores R. Leckey Doctor of Humanities 1989
Herman F. Lehman Doctor of Humanities 1964
The Most Rev. Paul F. Leibold Doctor of Humanities 1971
Evangeline Lindsley Doctor of Humane Letters 2000
John R. Loofburrow Doctor of Science 1936
Gerald J. Lynch Doctor of Business Administration 1963
Rev. John Macquarrie Doctor of Divinity 1994
Roger Makley Doctor of Laws 1998
Herbert Woodward Martin, Ph.D. Doctor of Humane Letters 2002
Clayton L. Mathile Doctor of Business Administration 2023
Anne O'Hare McCormick Doctor of Laws 1928
Wade H. McCree Jr. Doctor of Laws 1980
Monsignor Joseph D. McFarland Doctor of Humanities 1974
James H. McGee Doctor of Humanities 1982
Franklin H. McNutt Doctor of Laws 1938
James W. McSwiney Doctor of Humanities 1980
H. Talbott Mead Doctor of Humanities 1976
Elsie Talbott Mead Doctor of Humanities 1969
George Houk Mead Doctor of Humanities 1953
Soia Mentschikoff Doctor of Laws 1983
Robert H. Meyer Doctor of Humanities 1978
Monsignor Cletus A. Miller Doctor of Education 1945
John D. Millett Doctor of Humanities 1967
Sir William F. Montavon Doctor of Laws 1931
John E. Moore Doctor of Humane Letters 1998
Bette Rogge Morse Doctor of Humane Letters 1999
Charles H. Noll Doctor of Humane Letters 1992
Rev. John P. O'Brien, O.S.A. Doctor of Philosophy 1928
Robert S. Oelman Doctor of Humanities 1959
Rev. Walter J. Ong, S.J. Doctor of Humanities 2000
Theodore Oppenheim M.S. Mechanical Engineering 1928
Joseph J. Pater Bachelor of Arts 1907
Honorable Robert C. Patterson Doctor of Laws 1927
Thomas F. Patton Doctor of Laws 1954
Charles J. Pedersen Master of Science 1989
Mike Peters Doctor of Letters 1998
George A. Pflaum Doctor of Letters 1960
Jesse Philips Doctor of Humane Letters 1986
David C. Phillips Doctor of Humane Letters 2001
Most Rev. Daniel E. Pilarczyk Doctor of Humane Letters 1990
Louis F. Polk Doctor of Engineering 1966
Doris and David Ponitz Doctor of Humane Letters 1996
Ellen Jane Lorenz Porter, Ph.D. Doctor of Fine Arts 1986
Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J. Doctor of Humane Letters 2002
Rev. Gordon S. Price Doctor of Humanities 1974
George B. Quatman Doctor of Engineering 1937
General Edwin W. Rawlings Doctor of Humanities 1954
Maurice R. Reichard Doctor of Music 1970
Richard Reid Doctor of Laws 1937
Charles H. Reiling Doctor of Business Admin. 1939
Walter A. Reiling, M.D. Doctor of Humanities 1968
Rev. George J. Rennecker, S.M. Doctor of Education 1943
James Reston Doctor of Humane Letters 1987
Honorable Walter H. Rice Doctor of Laws 1991
Elliot L. Richardson Doctor of Laws 1979
David L. Rike Doctor of Humanities 1957
Burnell R. Roberts Doctor of Business Admin. 1991
Rev. Raymond A. Roesch, S.M. Doctor of Humane Letters 1983
Rutherford David Rogers Doctor of Library Administration 1971
Miriam Rosenthal Doctor of Humanities 1960
Brian H. Rowe Doctor of Engineering 2003
Rabbi Selwyn D. Ruslander Doctor of Humanities 1968
Monsignor Carl J. Ryan Doctor of Education 1962
Bro. Bernard T. Schad, S.M. Doctor of Education 1956
Betty Schmoll Doctor of Humanities 1998
Josephine Schwarz Doctor of Fine Arts 1974
Dr. Jeanne S. Schwengel Doctor of Science 1943
William H. Sexton Doctor of Laws 1925
Sanford M. Shapero Doctor of Laws 1995
John C. Shea Doctor of Laws 19xx
Sister Lourdes Sheehan, R.S.M. Doctor of Education 2001
George E. Sheer Doctor of Humanities 1926
Robert W. Sherman Doctor of Humanities 1994
John Q. Sherman Doctor of Laws 1933
Monsignor Robert J. Sherry Doctor of Humanities 1976
Roger B. Smith Doctor of Business Disinformation 1986
Milferd A. Spayd Doctor of Humanities 1960
George Sperti Doctor of Science 1934
Sister Dorothy Stang, S.N.D.* Doctor of Humane Letters 2006
Bland L. Stradley, L.L.D. Doctor of Education 1945
James M. Stuart Sr. Doctor of Humanities 1964
The Most Rev. Edward E. Swanstrom, D.D. Doctor of Humanities 1978
Frank M. Tait Doctor of Science 1947
Charles E. Taylor, Ph.D. Doctor of Education 1985
John F. Torley Doctor of Humanities 1982
Sister Mary Peter Traviss, O.P. Doctor of Education 2000
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson Doctor of Humane Letters 2005
Wellmore B. Turner Doctor of Laws 1958
Virginia Varga Doctor of Education 2000
C. William Verity Doctor of Humanities 1973
Hans J. P. Von Ohain, Ph.D. Doctor of Engineering 1988
Hugh E. Wall Jr. Doctor of Laws 1979
Hugh F. Wall Sr. Doctor of Laws 1934
Franklin B. Walter, Ph.D. Doctor of Education 1987
George W. Walther Sr. Doctor of Engineering 1958
John L. (Jack) Warne Doctor of Engineering 1990
Charles W. Washington Doctor of Humanities 1967
Archbishop Rembert Weakland Doctor of Humane Letters 1993
William H. Webster Doctor of Laws 1981
Charles Wendelken-Wilson Doctor of Music 1981
Charles W. Whalen Jr. Doctor of Humanities 1980
Elie Wiesel Doctor of Humane Letters 1993
Prof. Gerald L. Willis Doctor of Science 1994
Jonathan Winters Doctor of Fine Arts 1974
Ralph J. Wirshing Doctor of Science 1961
Louis Wozar Doctor of Humanities 1969
His Eminence Cardinal John J. Wright Doctor of Humanities 1963
Orville Wright Doctor of Engineering 1943
Rosamond M. Young Doctor of Humane Letters 1994
James C. Zeder Doctor of Engineering 1938
*Awarded posthumously