History of Honorary Degrees
The practice of conferring honorary degrees dates from the Middle Ages, as do many of the traditions surrounding college and university commencement ceremonies. The University of Oxford awarded its first honorary degree in the 1470s. More than 200 years later, in 1692, Harvard University was the first American institution to confer honorary degrees upon individuals for outstanding contributions in a particular field of study or to society in general.
Honorary Degrees at Albertus Magnus College
Albertus Magnus College awarded its first honorary degree in 1936 to Margaret L. Keefe, superintendent of schools from 1912 to 1954 in neighboring Hamden. She was recognized for her outstanding commitment and dedication to educating Hamden’s young people.
The Doctor of Humane Letters (D.H.L.) is the most frequently awarded honorary degree here at the College, followed by Doctor of Law (LL.D.).
Honorary Degrees Awarded Through May 2026
2026
Date of Ceremony: May 17, 2026
- Senator Martin M. Looney (D.H.L.)
- Louis Tagliatela, Jr. (D.H.L.)
2025
Date of Ceremony: May 18, 2025
- Donna M. Carroll, Ed.D. (D.H.L.)
- Sean P. O'Connell, Ph.D. (D.H.L.)
2024
Date of Ceremony: May 19, 2024
- Cindi Bigelow (D.H.L.)
- Sr. Mary Grace Walsh '80, ASCJ, Ph.D. (D.H.L.)
2023
Date of Ceremony: May 21, 2023
- Dianne M. Pinderhughes (D.H.L.)
- Joseph P. Germain, Jr. (D.H.L.)
- Joan E. Sacco (D.H.L.)
2022
Date of Ceremony: May 22, 2022
- Raymond J. Peach (D.H.L.)
- Patricia A. Twohill, O.P. (D.H.L.)
2020 & 2021
Date of Ceremony: May 16, 2021
- Marna P. Borgstrom (D.H.L.)
- Jeanne M. Dennison '78 (D.H.L.)
- William (Bill) J. Doyle Esq. (posthumous) (D.H.L.)
- Chris Lowney (D.H.L.)
2019
2018
Date of Ceremony: May 20, 2018
- Erik Clemons (D.H.L.)
- Harold W. Attridge (D.H.L.)
- Jan Attridge (D.H.L.)
2017
Date of Ceremony: May 21, 2017
- Reverend Robert L. Beloin (D.H.L.)
- Kica Matos (D.H.L.)
2016
Date of Ceremony: May 22, 2016
- Joseph R. Crespo (D.H.L.)
- Claire L. Criscuolo (D.H.L.)
- Daniel H. Diaz (D.H.L.)
- David S. Greco (D.H.L.)
- Monsignor Gerard G. Schmitz (D.H.L.)
2015
Date of Ceremony: May 17, 2015
- Brother James Branigan, C.S.C. (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Toni Nathaniel Harp (D.H.L.)
- Ellin Mulholland '51 (D.H.L.)
- Sr. Mauryeen O'Brien, O.P. (D.H.L.)
2014
Date of Ceremony: May 18, 2014
- Rabbi Herbert N. Brockman (D.H.L.)
- Drew S. Days III (D.H.L.)
- Sr. Janice McLaughlin, M.M. (D.H.L.)
- Denys Turner (D.H.L.)
2013
Date of Ceremony: May 13, 2013
- Ms. Barbara DeBaptiste (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable John T. Downey (D.H.L.)
- Sister Doris Regan, O.P. (D.H.L.)
2012
Date of Ceremony: May 20, 2012
- Dorsey L. Kendrick (D.H.L.)
- Ragaa Mazen (D.H.L.)
- Reverend Timothy A.Meehan (D.H.L.)
- Joan V. O'Brien, '46 (D.H.L.)
2011
Date of Ceremony: May 15, 2011
- Sr. Charles Marie Brantl, O.P., AMC '51 (D.H.L.)
- Sr. Mary Faith Dargan, O.P., AMC '53 (D.H.L.)
- Natalia Icaza Holland AMC '40 (D.H.L.)
- Marcus R. McCraven (D.H.L.)
2010
Date of Ceremony: May 16, 2010
- Carl A. Anderson (D.H.L.)
- Sr. Ann Bailie, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Jane Nady Sigmon, AMC '70 (D.H.L.)
- Lula White (D.H.L.)
2009
Date of Ceremony: May 19, 2009
- Sr. Anne Kilbride, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Margaret Badum Melady, Ph.D. (D.H.L.)
- Honorable Thomas Patrick Melady, Ph.D. (D.H.L.)
2008
Date of Ceremony: May 18, 2008
- Charles G. Crump (D.H.L.)
- Carlton L. Highsmith (D.H.L.)
- Thelma M. Johnson (D.H.L.)
- Valerie F. Lewis (D.H.L.)
- Jacqueline Noonan, M.D., AMC '50 (D.H.L.)
2007
Date of Ceremony: May 20, 2007
- David Hayes, M.F.A. (D.H.L.)
- Joseph P. Kazickas, Ph.D. (D.H.L.)
- Henry C. Lee, Ph.D. (D.H.L.)
- Roslyn Milstein Meyer, Ph.D. (D.H.L.)
- Gualberto Ruaño, M.D., Ph.D. (D.H.L.)
2006
Date of Ceremony: May 14, 2006
- The Honorable Robert J. Callahan (D.H.L.)
- Lorraine D. Cronin (D.H.L.)
- Barry Svigals (D.H.L.)
- Sr. Thoma Swanson, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Tomoko Takahashi, AMC '77 (D.H.L.)
2005
Dates of Ceremony: May 15, 2005 & September 19, 2005
- Gerald S. Clark (D.H.L.)
- Alison Cunningham (D.H.L.)
- Evelyn Garrity AMC '48 (D.H.L.)
- The Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell (D.H.L.)
- Robert F. Behan (D.H.L.)
2004
Date of Ceremony: May 16, 2004
- Tony Falcone (D.H.L.)
- Sr. Dolores Liptak, RSM, AMC '53 (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Flemming Norcott Jr. (D.H.L.)
- The Reverend Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J. (D.H.L.)
2003
Date of Ceremony: May 19, 2003
- Bishop Theodore L. Brooks (D.H.L.)
- Frances T. "Bitsie" Clark (D.H.L.)
- Brother Rick Curry, S.J. (D.H.L.)
- Louis F. Tagliatela Sr. (D.H.L.)
2002
Date of Ceremony: May 21, 2002
- Sr. Mary Faith Geelan, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Sidney and Libby Glucksman (D.H.L.)
- Willie Ruff (D.H.L.)
- Jack Africk (D.H.L.)
- Kevin Roche (D.H.L.)
- Sister Miriam Therese Winter, M.M.S. (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Lowell P. Weicker Jr. (LL.D)
2001
Date of Ceremony: May 20, 2001
- Gerald and Joanne Anderson (D.H.L.)
- Sr. Mary Ellen Burns, A.S.C.J. (D.H.L.)
- Rev. Bonita Grubbs (D.H.L.)
- John M. Lyons (D.H.L.)
- Robert J. Lyons Sr. (D.H.L.)
- Margaret L. MacDonough (D.H.L.)
2000
Date of Ceremony: May 21, 2000
- Mel Goldstein (D.H.L.)
- Sister Mary Andrew Matesich, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Georges May (D.H.L.)
- Hugh B. Price (D.H.L.)
- Mitchell Sviridoff (D.H.L.)
- Agnes Timpson (D.H.L.)
1999
Dates of Ceremony: January 17, 1999 & May 16, 1999
- The Honorable JoAnne Kiely Kulawiz, AMC '56 (D.H.L.)
- Harold Hongju Koh (D.H.L.)
- Elizabeth B. Kubler (D.H.L.)
- Edward J. Logue (D.H.L.)
- Sr. MaryJane Paolella, ASCJ (D.H.L.)
1998
Date of Ceremony: May 17, 1998
- Roger Angell (D.H.L.)
- Richard J. Grossi (D.H.L.)
- Daniel and Nancy Kops (D.H.L.)
- Barbara L. Pearce (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Joseph Lieberman (D.H.L.)
1997
Date of Ceremony: June 22, 1997
- Anne Calabresi (D.H.L.)
- Timothy Shriver (D.H.L.)
- Ernest Borgnine (D.H.L.)
- Daniel Cosgrove (D.H.L.)
1996
Dates of Ceremony: April 14, 1996 & June 30, 1996
- Sister Margaret Ormond, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Reverend Theodore Hesburgh, CSC (D.H.L.)
- Alice Golden, AMC'84 (D.H.L.)
- Harold Robles (D.H.L.)
1995
Date of Ceremony: June 25, 1995
- Michael Palmer (D.H.L.)
- Ann Dechant (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Charles Gill (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Guido Calabresi (LL.D)
1994
Dates of Ceremony: April 10, 1994 & December 11, 1994
- Susan Saint James (D.H.L.)
- Fenmore R. Seton and Phyllis Z. Seton (D.H.L.)
- Ella Scantlebury (D.H.L.)
- Cesar Pelli (D.H.L.)
- Katrina Clark (D.H.L.)
- Frederick Mancheski (D.H.L.)
1993
Date of Ceremony: May 23, 1993
- Arvin Brown (D.H.L.)
- Sister Louise Anthony, S.C. (D.H.L.)
- Thomas J. Meskill (LL.D)
- Walter H. Monteith Jr. (D.H.L.)
- Verdell M. Roberts (D.H.L.)
1992
Date of Ceremony: May 17, 1992
- Philip Johnson (D.H.L.)
- Sister Thomas Aquin Kelly, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Marion E. Morra (D.H.L.)
- Cornell Scott (D.H.L.)
- Vincent Scully (D.H.L.)
1990
Date of Ceremony: May 20, 1990
- Sister Anne Virginie Grimes, S.C. (D.H.L.)
- Sister Mary Ellen Lynch, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Ellen Ash Peters (D.H.L.)
- Lloyd Richards (D.H.L.)
- Calvin Trillin (D.H.L.)
- Dr. Anne C. Wollack, AMC'35 (D.H.L.)
1989
Date of Ceremony: May 21, 1989
- Dr. James P. Comer (D.H.L.)
- Sister Joan Delaney, M.M. (D.H.L.)
- Louis Harris (D.H.L.)
- C. Newton Schenck, III (D.H.L.)
- Mary Hunter Wolf (D.H.L.)
1988
Date of Ceremony: May 22, 1988
- Eleanor Estes (D.H.L.)
- Mary Brooks Griswold (D.H.L.)
- Jean M. Handley (D.H.L.)
- John Hersey (D.H.L.)
- Herbert H. Pearce (D.H.L.)
1987
Date of Ceremony: May 24, 1987
- William F. Buckley Jr. (D.H.L.)
- Elizabeth Patterson (D.H.L.)
1986
Date of Ceremony: May 18, 1986
- Virgil C. Dechant (D.H.L.)
- James A. Walsh (D.H.L.)
- Dr. Luca E. Celantano (D.H.L.)
- Dr. Giacominia Hippolitus (Mrs. Jean) (D.H.L.)
- Sister Francis Clare O'Malley, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Sister Wilfrida Walsh, O.P. (D.H.L.)
1985
Date of Ceremony: May 19, 1985
- Mary Benevento (D.H.L.)
- Robert J. Leeney (D.H.L.)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver (D.H.L.)
1984
Date of Ceremony: May 20, 1984
- Anita Flannigan, AMC'37 (D.H.L.)
- Florence Jacobson (D.H.L.)
- The Most Reverend Thomas C. Kelly (D.H.L.)
- Sister Melinda Rober, M.M. (D.H.L.)
1983
Dates of Ceremony: January 13, 1983 & May 22, 1983
- Edward Cornelis Florentius Alfons Schillebeeckx, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr. (D.H.L.)
1982
Date of Ceremony: May 23, 1982
- Christopher H. Buckley (LL.D)
- Charles M. Grace (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Richard C. Lee (LL.D)
- Mary Ellen Mininberg, AMC'49 (D.H.L.)
- Sister Camilla Mullay, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Philip Paolella (LL.D)
- The Honorable Lisa Aversa Richette (LL.D)
1981
Date of Ceremony: May 17, 1981
- Sister Maria Patricia Devaney, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Dr. M. Kathleen McGrory (D.H.L.)
- Miss Eileen O'Neill, AMC'37 (D.H.L.)
1980
Date of Ceremony: May 18, 1980
- Phyllis Curtin (D.H.L.)
1979
Date of Ceremony: May 20, 1979
- Margaret Mealey (D.H.L.)
1978
Date of Ceremony: May 21, 1978
- Raymond E. Baldwin (LL.D)
- Maxine Schlingman (D.H.L.)
- Mrs. Chase Going Woodhouse (LL.D)
1977
Date of Ceremony: May 22, 1977
- Dorothea Rudnick (D.H.L.)
- Mary A. Wrenn, AMC'46 (LL.D)
1976
Date of Ceremony: May 23, 1976
- Bianca Contini Calabresi (D.H.L.)
- Dean Isabel Charles (D.H.L.)
- Mrs. Emilie N. Hansen (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Constance Baker Motley (LL.D)
1975
Date of Ceremony: May 19, 1975
- Bishop John F. Donnelly (D.H.L.)
- Mary Etta Knapp (D.H.L.)
- The Honorable Gloria Schaffer (D.H.L.)
- Richard B. Sewall (D.H.L.)
1974
Date of Ceremony: June 2, 1974
- The Honorable Ellen Bree Burns, AMC'44 (LL.D)
- Francis H. Horn (D.H.L.)
- Sister Arline Schmeer, O.P. (D.H.L.)
- Archbishop John F. Whealon (LL.D)
1973
Dates of Ceremony: January 5, 1973 & June 3, 1973
- His Majesty, Palden Thondup Namgyal (LL.D)
- 12th Consecrated Chogyal of Sikkim (D.H.L.)
- Hope Cooke Namgyla, Gyalmo of Sikkim (LL.D)
- Mary Daly Bain, AMC'34 (D.S.)
- Rev. Vincent Cyril Dore, O.P. (LL.D)
- Sister Mary Charles Gallagher (LL.D)
- Ruth Alice Hass (LL.D)
- Jane Dargan Humphries (LL.D)
- Sister Irmina Longstreth, O.P. (LL.D)
- Jaroslav Jan Pelikan (D.H.L.)
1972
Date of Ceremony: June 11, 1972
- Josephine P. Bree (D.H.L.)
- Ruth C. Gillespie (D.H.L.)
- Margaret O'Shaughnessy Heckler, AMC'53 (LL.D)
- Sister Marie Louise Hubert, O.P. (LL.D)
- John F. Robinson (LL.D)
- William Sanders (LL.D)
1971
Date of Ceremony: May 2, 1971
- John M. Golden (D.H.L.)
- Edward Bennett Williams (LL.D)
1965
Date of Ceremony: June 3, 1965
- Aldo P. DeDominicis (D.H.L.)
- Patrick J. Goode (D.H.L.)
- Sister Madonna Murphy, AMC'37, C.S.C. (D.H.L.)
1950
Date of Ceremony: October 8, 1950
- Esther Budd, AMC'28 (D.H.L.)
- Christopher Wyatt (D.H.L.)
1936
Date of Ceremony: June 11, 1936
- Margaret L. Keefe (LL.D)
D.H.L. - Doctor of Humane Letters
LL.D. - Doctor of Laws
Ed.D. - Doctor of Education
D.S.D.H.L. - Doctor of Science
D.N. - Doctor of Nursing
D.P.A. - Doctor of Public Administration