Honorary Degrees
The tradition of awarding honorary degrees at Loyola University Chicago began in 1878. Conferred by the University's Board of Trustees, these degrees recognize individuals for their contributions in the advancement of knowledge, example as a model of achievement and commitment to the common good, and commitment to the values and ideals of the University's Jesuit, Catholic heritage.
2024 Recipient
Fabio Lievano, MD
Vice President, Patient Safety, Scientific Collaborations and New Business Advancements, Pharmacovigilance & Patient Safety, Epidemiology and R&D Quality Assurance, AbbVie
Candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa
Read Fabio Lievano’s BiographyPast Year Recipients
Listed alpha by last name with title/role at time of degree conferral.
Past Honorary Recipients
Florestan Aguilar, DDS
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa in 1925
William F. Albright
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 1960
Vernon R. Alden
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa in 1966
John B. Amberg, S.J.
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 1970
Mary Agnes Amberg
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa in 1928
Marian Anderson
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 1970
Juan Andrade Jr., EdD
Community Leader; Executive Director, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2009
Giulio Andreotti
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa in 1972
Hannah Arendt
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 1970
Magda Arnold
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 1970
Kevin Bales, PhD
Humanitarian, President & Co-Founder, Free the Slaves; Emeritus Professor, Roehampton University
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2010
Raymond Baumhart, S.J.
Consultant, Archdiocese of Chicago
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the Quinlan School of Business in 2007
Catherine Bertini
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2002
Yvonne Bezerra de Mello
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2000
Michael J. & Katherine Birck
Co-Founder of Tellabs; Head of Nursing Health, Tellabs
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2002
Gregory J. Boyle, S.J.
Founder/Executive Director, Jobs for a Future-Homeboy Industries
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Social Work in 2007.
Rev. John M. Buchanan
Pastor, Preacher, Advocate of Human Rights, Presbyterian Church
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2002
Peter I. Buerhaaus, PhD, RN, FAAN
Potter Distinguished Professor of Nursing, Vanderbilt University
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing in 2012
Theodore Holmes Bullock, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa in 2000
The Honorable Anne M. Burke
Illinois Supreme Court
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa by the School of Law in 2008
John D. Callaway
WBBM Radio, Reporter WTTW TV
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2001
Annamaria Campanini, PhD
Professor of Social Work, University of Milan; President, European Association of Schools of Social Work
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Social Work in 2009
Simone Campbell, SSJ, JD
Executive Director, NETWORK
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School and Institute of Pastoral Studies in 2018
Ignazio Francesco Caramazza
State Advocate General, Italy
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa by the School of Law in 2011
Cardinal Edward Cassidy
Cardinal Deacon, Santa Maria in Via Lata
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2001
Terry Charlton, S.J.
Educator; AIDS Activist; Co-Founder, St. Aloysius Gonzaga High School Nairobi, Kenya
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2009
Umerto Remo G. Cornelli, MD
Internationally Recognized Research Scientist
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa in 2002
Larry Cox
Executive Director, Amnesty International, USA
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2007
Thomas J. Dart (JD '87)
Legislator, Cook County Sheriff
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2011
Gino L. DiVito (JD '63)
Co-Founder, Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC; Adjunct Faculty, LUC School of Law
Awarded the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa by the School of Law in 2013
Anthony Fauci, MD
Director, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2006
Jack H. Geiger, MD
Founding Member & Past President, Physicians for Human Rights; Physicians for Social Responsibility
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by the Stritch School of Medicine in 2010
JC Gonzaliez-Mendez
President & CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2013
Andrew M. Greeley, PhD
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2000
Alice B. Hayes
Provost & Executive Vice President, St. Louis University
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa in 2010
Wil Haygood
Pulitzer Prize Nominee, Author, Historian
Awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2017
Leroy Hood
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2005
Mary Ann Hynes, JD, LLM, MBA, (BA '90)
General Counsel, Archdiocese of Chicago
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2016
Diann Jordan, PhD
Professor of Biological Science, Alabama State University
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2013
Vijay Kakkar, MD
Emeritus Professor, Thrombosis Research Institute
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2007
Martin J. Koldyke
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Education in 2005
Ted Koppel
Reporter and News Anchor, ABC News
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2000
Thomas Lovejoy III, PhD
Professor of Environmental Science & Policy, George Mason University; Founder, PBS Series 'Nature'
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2012
Ramsey Lewis
Composer, Pianist/Jazz Musician
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2008
Spero Manson, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Public Health and Psychiatry, Director of the Centers for American Indian & Alaska Native Health
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health in 2022
William J. McCarter
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2003
Leo Melamed
Principal, Shatkin, Arbor & Karlov
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2000
Judith A. Moberly Mayotte, PhD
Professor & TV Producer, Advocate Displaced
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2002
Vladimiro Valdes Montoya, S.J.
Director, Jesuit Migrant Services of Mexico
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Social Work in 2012
Balasubramanian Muthuraman
Vice Chairman, Tata Steel Group
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the Quinlan School of Business in 2010
David W. Orr
Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics, Emeritus, Oberlin College
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Environmental Sustainability
Cynthia O'Connell (BS '81)
Brigadier General, United States Army (Retired); Health Care Executive; Educator
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2017
Eboo Patel, PhD
Executive Director, Interfaith Youth Core; Member, White House Faith Advisory Council
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2010
Lekha Pathak, MD
Professor & Head, Department of Cardiology, Grant Medical College, India
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by The Graduate School and the Institute of Pastoral Studies in 2012
Norma Pimentel, MA
Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the Institute of Pastoral Studies in 2020
Bill Plante (BS '59)
Senior White House Correspondent, CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Communication in 2016
Phil Ponce
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2004
Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, MD
Neurosurgeon, Researcher & Author, Johns Hopkins University
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2016
Juan Andrade, Jr., EdD
Community Leader; Executive Director, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2009
Terrence Roberts, PhD
CEO, Terrence J. Roberts & Associates; Civil Rights Advocate and Author
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2019
Anthony J. Rudis
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2003
Mary P. Rudis
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2003
Paul Rusesabagina
Humanitarian; President, Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2009
Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2016.
Elaine M. Schuster, PhD
Superintendent of Archdiocese Chicago
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2001
Anna J. Schwartz
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the Quinlan School of Business in 2003
Richard Sennet
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2003
Michael J. Sheeran, S.J.
President, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2019
Jon Sobrino, S.J.
Director, Oscar Romero Pastoral Center
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Continuing Studies in 2014
Bryan A. Stevenson
Founder & Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the Stritch School of Medicine in 2011
Debra W. Stewart, PhD
President, Council of Graduate Schools
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2013
Jeanne M. Sullivan
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Continuing and Professional Studies in 2005
Monsignor Gregory Thomas Schaffer
Senior Chaplain, Stritch School of Medicine
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2000
Joseph P. Sullivan
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the School of Continuing and Professional Studies in 2005
Studs Terkel
Broadcaster and Author
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2006
Alison Thompson
Humanitarian; Ambassador to the Haitian Ministry of the Environment
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2015
Tererai Trent, PhD
Humanitarian & Founder, Tinogona Foundation
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2014
Minnijeaan Brown Trickey
Social Activist; Member, Little Rock Nine
Awarded by the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2008
Margaret Daniels Tyler, MPA
Senior Program Officer in U.S. Programs for Scholarships and Postsecondary Success of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by The Graduate School in 2011
Luis Alberto Urrea
Author, Pulitzer Prize Finalist, University of Illinois
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2013
Tadataka Yamada, MD
Board Member, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Corporation
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa by the Stritch School of Medicine in 2013
Philip Zimbardo, PhD
Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Stanford University
Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by the College of Arts & Sciences in 2010