Past Honorees
Saint Louis University's history of conferring honorary degrees dates back to 1844.
2025
- Commencement Speaker: Fred Pestello, Ph.D.
President, Saint Louis University - Patrick and Peggy Sly
Members of the board of directors for One Classroom
Doctor of Public Service - Thomas H. Smolich, S.J.
Rector of the Jesuit community at Santa Clara University’s Jesuit School of Theology
Doctor of Public Service
2024
- Commencement Speaker: Jon Hamm
Award-winning actor
Doctor of Fine Arts - P. Maria Joseph Christie, S.J.
Secretary of higher education for the Society of Jesus
Doctor of Public Service - Susan E. Klepper, Ph.D., and William M. Klepper, Ph.D.
Emeritus professor at Columbia University and academic director at Columbia University
Doctor of Education
2023
- Commencement Speaker: John O'Leary
Author of On Fire and In Awe, and Motivational Speaker
Doctor of Letters - Marlene Davis
Retired Alderwoman, 19th Ward of the City of St. Louis
Doctor of Public Service - Marianne Muellerleile
Actress
Doctor of Fine Arts
2022
- Commencement Speaker: Andrés Gallegos, J.D.
Chairman, National Council on Disability
Doctor of Public Service - Isiaah Crawford, Ph.D.
President, University of Puget Sound
Doctor of Education - Patrick P. Lee
Engineer, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Doctor of Technology - Joan and John Vatterott
Philanthropists, Entrepreneurs and Co-founders, Access Academies
Doctor of Education
2021
- Commencement Speaker: Alexander Garza, M.D.
Chief Community Health Officer of SSM Health
Doctor of Public Service - Brenda and Larry Thompson
African American Art Collectors, Preservationists and Donors
Doctor of Arts - Linda and Alan Vogt
Student-Athlete Supporters
Doctor of Commerce
2020
- Commencement Speaker: Tiffany Anderson, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Topeka Public Schools
Doctor of Education - The Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson
St. Louis Archbishop Emeritus
Doctor of Divinity - The Saint Louis Jesuits (Bob Dufford, S.J., John Foley, S.J., Tim Manion, Robert “Roc”
O’Connor, S.J., and Dan Schutte)
Liturgical Musicians and Composers
Doctor of Music
2019
- Commencement Speaker: Randall L. Stephenson
Chairman and CEO, AT&T
Doctor of Commerce - Robert Cardillo
Former Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Doctor of Humane Letters - Marie Kenyon, J.D.
Director, Peace and Justice Commission of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
Doctor of Public Service - Donald Ross
Retired Chairman, Enterprise
Doctor of Commerce
2018
- Commencement Speaker: Ronald A. Mercier, S.J., Ph.D.
Provincial of the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus
Doctor of Divinity - Rep. William “Bill” Lacy Clay Sr.
Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Doctor of Public Service - Francis G. Slay, J.D.
Former Mayor, City of St. Louis
Doctor of Public Service - José María Merino
Spanish Writer/Member of the Royal Academic of Writers
Doctor of Humane Letters (awarded March 7, 2018) - Isabel Gómez-Acebo Duque de Estrada
Theologian
Doctor of Humanities (awarded March 7, 2018) - Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez, S.J.
Disability Advocate
Doctor of Public Service (awarded March 7, 2018)
2017
- Commencement Speaker: Diana Natalicio, Ph.D.
President, University of Texas at El Paso
Doctor of Science - Rich McClure
Former President, Unigroup; Co-Chair, the Ferguson Commission
Doctor of Public Service - John Padberg, S.J.
Scholar, Author and Former Director of the Institute of Jesuit Sources
Doctor of Divinity - Rev. Starsky Wilson
President and CEO, the Deaconess Foundation, and Pastor, Saint John’s Church
Co-Chair, the Ferguson Commission
Doctor of Public Service
2016
- Commencement Speaker: Kevin F. O'Malley, J.D.
U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
Doctor of Medical Science - Mary Jean Ryan, F.S.M.
Former CEO of SSM Health
Doctor of Public Service
2015
- Commencement Speaker: Garry Kasparov
Chess Grandmaster and Founder of the United Civil Front Movement
Doctor of Laws - Anita Lyons Bond
Educator and Civil Rights Champion
Doctor of Humanities - Gene Kranz
Former Director of Mission Control, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Doctor of Science
2014
- Commencement Speaker: Jimmie Edwards, J.D.
Judge, 22nd Judicial Court of St. Louis; Founder, Innovative Concept Academy
Doctor of Laws - Peggy Ritter
Philanthropist
Doctor of Humanities - David and Thelma Steward
Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists
Doctor of Humanities - Joseph Tetlow, S.J.
Spiritual Director and Author
Doctor of Humane Letters
2013
- Commencement Speaker: John Foppe
Author and Executive Director, Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Doctor of Humanities and Public Service - Metee Auapinyakul
Executive Director, Banpu Public Company Limited
Doctor of Business, Engineering and Technology - Joe and Loretta Scott
Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists
Doctor of Humanities - Chanin Vongkusolkit
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director, Banpu Public Company Limited
Doctor of Business, Engineering and Technology
2012
- Commencement Speaker: James Martin, S.J.
Author
Doctor of Humane Letters - Doug and Ann Brown
Philanthropists
Doctor of Humanities - His Beatitude Bechara Peter Rai
Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church
Doctor of Humanities - Paul A. Young, Ph.D.
Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Saint Louis University
Doctor of Science
2011
- Commencement Speaker: Anthony R. Tersigni
President and CEO of Ascension Health Inc.
Doctor of Public Service - Brother Mel Meyer, S.M.
Artist
Doctor of Fine Arts - Harlene E. and Marvin S. Wool
Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists
Doctor of Humanities
2010
- Commencement Speaker: Most. Rev. Pietro Sambi
Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
Doctor of Laws - Father Valentine Peter, J.C.D., S.T.D.
Former Executive Director, Boys Town
Doctor of Humanities - Sister Mary Antona Ebo, F.S.M.
Civil Rights Pioneer
Doctor of Humanities
2009
- Commencement Speaker: Greg Mortenson
Humanitarian and Author
Doctor of Humanities - William H.T. "Bucky" Bush
Co-founder and Chairman, Bush O’Donnell Capital Partners
Doctor of Law - Nancy and Al Siwak
Business Owners and Community Volunteers
Doctor of Humanities
2008
- Commencement Speaker: Joe Buck
Broadcaster, Fox Sports
Doctor of Humanities - Maxine Clark
Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Bear, Build-A-Bear Workshop
Doctor of Laws - Charles and Shirley Drury
Hoteliers and Philanthropists
Doctor of Humanities
2007
- Commencement Speaker: Lawrence "Yogi" Berra
Baseball Hall of Famer and Author
Doctor of Laws - Benjamin Carson, M.D.
Neurosurgeon and Author
Doctor of Science - Chang-Soo Huh
Chairman and CEO, GS Holdings Grou
Doctor of Laws - Joseph and Rosemary Shaughnessy
Philanthropists and Community Supporters
Doctor of Laws
2006
- Commencement Speaker: Chris Lowney, M.A.
Author, Heroic Leadership
Doctor of Laws - Maurice B. McNamee, S.J., Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Saint Louis University
Doctor of Fine Arts - Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir (awarded June 30, 2006)
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Doctor of Laws - Ruth Stroble and Frank Stroble, M.B.A.
Supporters of Catholic Education
Doctor of Humanities
2005
- Commencement Speaker: Houston A. Baker Jr., Ph.D.
Professor, Duke University
Doctor of Humane Letters - Joe Edwards
St. Louis-area Developer
Doctor of Fine Arts - Bernadine Healy, M.D.
Cardiologist and Health Administrator
Doctor of Science - Floyd D. Loop, M.D.
Cardiologist, The Cleveland Clinic
Doctor of Science
2004
- Commencement Speaker: Wolf Blitzer, M.A.
CNN Anchor
Doctor of Public Service - Clara L. Adams-Ender, M.S.N., M.M.A.S.
Brigadier General and Nurse, U.S. Army
Doctor of Science - Kathleen Hummel, M.S.W., and Scott Hummel, M.S.W.
Founders, Our Little Haven
Doctor of Humanities - Bishop Robert J. Shaheen
Bishop, Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
Doctor of Humanities
2003
- Commencement Speaker: Bill McClellan
Columnist, St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Martin L. Mathews
President, CEO & Co-founder Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club
Doctor of Humanities - Emily Rauh Pulitzer, M.A.
Founder and President, Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
Doctor of Fine Arts - Frank Reale, S.J., M.A.
Provincial, Jesuits of the Missouri Province
Doctor of Humanities
2002
- Commencement Speaker: Alice Bourke Hayes, Ph.D.
President, University of San Diego
Doctor of Laws - Bishop Joseph Lee Han-taek, S.J., M.S.
Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul Korea
Doctor of Laws - Mary Ann Barrett Shanahan
Community Volunteer
Doctor of Humanities - Michael F. Shanahan Sr.
Chairman of the Board and CEO, Engineered Support Systems Inc.
Doctor of Law
2001
- Commencement Speaker: Arnold L. Mitchem, Ph.D.
President, Council for Opportunity in Education
Doctor of Humanities - Richard Baron, J.D.
President, McCormack Baron & Associates
Doctor of Fine Arts - Margaret A. Farley, R.S.M., Ph.D.
Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Theological Ethics, Yale University Divinity School
Doctor of Humanities - Elizabeth and Raymond Kalinowski
Community Volunteers
Doctor of Humanities
2000
- Commencement Speaker: August A. Busch III
Chairman of the Board and President, Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.
Doctor of Laws - Mary Adele Bruemmer, M.A.
University Volunteer
Doctor of Humanities - Marilyn Fox
Community Volunteer
Doctor of Public Service - Sam Fox
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Harbour Group Ltd.
Doctor of Public Service - Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, Ph.D.
Bishop of Belleville, Illinois
Doctor of Humanities
1999
- Commencement Speakers: Cokie Roberts
Journalist, This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts
Doctor of Public Service
Steven V. Roberts
Shapiro Professor of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University
Doctor of Public Service - Archbishop Joseph Pittau, S.J., Ph.D.
Secretary, Congregation for Catholic Education
Doctor of Laws - Hon. Ronnie L. White, J.D.
Judge, Missouri Supreme Court
Doctor of Laws
1998
- Commencement Speaker: Tim Russert, J.D.
Moderator, NBC’s Meet the Press
Doctor of Public Service - Judith Spector Aronson, Ph.D., and Adam Aronson, B.S.
Art Patrons
Doctor of Fine Arts - Frankie Muse Freeman, J.D.
Civil Rights Leader
Doctor of Laws - Judith Pearce Jones and Dennis M. Jones
Founders, Jones Medical Industries Inc.
Doctor of Humanities - Otto Felix Schwarz, Ph.D.
President and CEO, IMMUNO
Doctor of Science
1997
- Commencement Speaker: Anne Keefe, M.A.
Journalist, KETC-Channel 9
Doctor of Humane Letters - Ira Herskowitz, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California-San Francisco
Doctor of Science - Richard J. Mark, M.S.
President and CEO, St. Mary’s Hospital of East St. Louis, Ill.
Doctor of Public Service - Mary Ross
Retiring Alderwoman-Fifth Ward City of St. Louis
Doctor of Public Service - Janet D. Rowley, M.D., D.Sc.
Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago
Doctor of Science
1996
- Commencement Speaker: Michael Novak, M.A.
George Fredrick Jewett Chair in Religion and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.; Theologian, Author and Former U.S. Ambassador
Doctor of Humanities - Daniel T. Barry, Ph.D., M.D.
Astronaut, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Doctor of Science - Alfred Fleishman
Co-Founder, Fleishman-Hillard Inc.
Doctor of Humane Letters - Ada Sue Hinshaw, Ph.D., R.N.
Dean and Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing
Former Director, the National Institutes of Health Center of Nursing Research
Doctor of Science - Harry Wu, Ph.D.
Human Rights Activist
Doctor of Humanities
1995
- Commencement Speaker: Jack Buck
Sports Director, KMOX/CBS Radio
Doctor of Humanities - John E. Connelly
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, JEC Enterprises Ltd.
Doctor of Humanities - Archbishop Justin Rigali
Archbishop of St. Louis
Doctor of Humane Letters - Andrew Young
U.S. Representative to the United Nations and Civil and Human Rights Leader
Doctor of Laws (awarded Jan. 31, 1995)
1994
- Commencement Speaker: Bishop Hays H. Rockwell, D.H.
Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri
Doctor of Humanities - Mildred L. Jamison, R.N.
Founder of Faith House
Doctor of Humanities - John W. O’Malley, S.J., Ph.D.
Professor of Church History, Weston School of Theology
Doctor of Humane Letters - Donald M. Suggs, D.D.S.
President and Publisher, St. Louis American
Doctor of Laws
1993
- Commencement Speaker: John W. Padberg, S.J., Ph.D.
Director, Institute of Jesuit Sources - Ian T. Jackson, M.D.
Director of the Institute for Craniofacial and Reconstructive Surgery
Doctor of Science - Sisters Mary Joel Kolmer; Shirley Kolmer, Ph.D.; Kathleen McGuire, Ph.D.; Agnes Mueller;
and Barbara Ann Muttra (posthumously)
Accepting in their honor: Sister Mildred Gross
Provincial of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ
Doctor of Humanities - Jacob Neusner, Ph.D.
Distinguished Research Professor, University of South Florida
Doctor of Humane Letters
1992
- Commencement Speaker: Joseph Garagiola
Co-host of NBC’s Today
Doctor of Humane Letters - Mary Ann Eckhoff, S.S.N.D., Ph.D.
Superintendent of Education, St. Louis Archdiocese
Doctor of Humanities - Theodore McMillian, LL.D.
Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Doctor of Laws - Kenneth D. Kaunda
Former President of Zambia
Doctor of Laws (awarded Oct. 14, 1992) - Gregorio Peces-Barba, Ph.D.
Rector de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Doctor of Humanities (awarded Oct. 23, 1992) - Rosa Chacel
Author
Doctor of Letters (awarded Oct. 23, 1992) - Javier Gurpide
Vice Presidente del Banco Bilbao Vizcaya
Doctor of Laws (awarded Oct. 23, 1992)
1991
- Commencement Speaker: Edward J. (Ted) Koppel
Anchor of ABC’s Nightline
Doctor of Humane Letters - Charles Blakey Blackmar, LL.D.
Missouri Chief Justice
Doctor of Laws - Andrew M. Greeley, Ph.D.
Sociologist, Educator and Writer
Doctor of Humanities - Kathryn E. Nelson
Program Director for the Danforth Foundation
Doctor of Humanities - Paul H. Poberezny
Chairman of the Board, Experimental Aircraft Assoc.
Doctor of Science - Jon Sobrino, S.J., Ph.D.
Professor of Theology, University of Central America
Doctor of Humanities (awarded Feb. 25, 1991)
1990
- Commencement Speaker: Barbara Pierce Bush
First Lady of the United States
Doctor of Humanities - Clyde S. Cahill, LL.D.
Circuit Judge, City of St. Louis
Doctor of Laws - Leighton E. Cluff, M.D.
President, Robert Wood Johnston Foundation
Doctor of Science - Henry Givens Jr., Ph.D.
President, Harris-Stowe State College
Doctor of Humanities - Ellen Robinson Grass, LL.D., D.Sc.
President, Grass Foundation
Doctor of Science - Charles H. Hoessle
Director, Saint Louis Zoo
Doctor of Laws
1989
- Commencement Speaker: Ambassador Loret Miller Ruppe
Director, Peace Corps; Ambassador to Norway
Doctor of Public Service - Clarence C. Barksdale
Vice Chairman, Boatmen’s Bancshares Inc.
Doctor of Public Service - George E. Ganss, S.J., Ph.D.
Director, Institute of Jesuit Sources
Doctor of Laws - Gustavo Villapolos Salas, Ph.D.
President, La Universidad Complutense
Doctor of Laws - Adelaide Mahaffey Schlafly
Community Volunteer
Doctor of Public Service - Daniel L. Schlafly
Former Chairman, SLU's Board of Trustees
Doctor of Public Service
1988
- Commencement Speaker: Lawrence Biondi, S.J., Ph.D.
President, Saint Louis University - Henry E. Hampton
President, Blackside, Inc.
Doctor of Humane Letters - Renilda Hilkemeyer, B.S., R.N.
Retired Nursing Educator
Doctor of Public Service - David Merrick
Theatrical Producer
Doctor of Humane Letters - Robert G. Petersdorf, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges
Doctor of Science - Fausto Cereti
President and Chief Operating Officer, Alenia
Doctor of Legal Laws (awarded April 8, 1988)
1987
- Commencement Speaker: George H.W. Bush
Vice President of the United States
Doctor of Legal Laws - Robert F. Hyland
Regional Vice President, CBS Radio Division
Doctor of Public Service - Harvey A. Itano, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor of Pathology, University of California
Doctor of Science
1986
- Commencement Speaker: Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr.
Mayor, City of St. Louis
Doctor of Public Service - C. Rollins Hanlon, M.D.
Director of the American College of Surgeons
Doctor of Science - Sanford N. McDonnell
President and Chief Executive officer, McDonnell-Douglas Corp.
Doctor of Science - William H. Oldendorf, M.D.
Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of California at Los Angeles
Doctor of Science - Nathan B. Young, LL.D.
Retired Attorney and Judge
Doctor of Legal Laws - Umberto Nordio, Ph.D.*
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia Airlines
Doctor of Legal Laws (awarded April 9, 1986)
1985
- Commencement Speaker: Richard A. Gephardt, LL.D.
U.S. Representative from Missouri
Doctor of Public Service - Robert M. Heyssel, M.D
President, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Doctor of Science - Peter Sutherland
Commissioner of the Commission of the European Economic Communities
Doctor of Legal Laws - Harold S. Wood, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Aeronautical Administration, Parks College of Saint Louis University
Doctor of Legal Laws (awarded July 30, 1985)
1984
- Commencement Speaker: John C. Danforth, LL.D.
U.S. Senator from Missouri
Doctor of Legal Laws - James D. Collins, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University
Doctor of Humane Letters - William A. Nolen, M.D.
Physician and Author
Doctor of Humane Letters - Walter J. Ong, S.J., Ph.D.
University Professor of Humanities; William E. Haren Professor of English; Professor of Humanities in Psychiatry, Saint Louis University
Doctor of Humane Letters - Joseph Cardinal Bernardin
Archbishop of Chicago
Doctor of Humane Letters (awarded March 11, 1984)
1983
- Art Buchwald
Author
Doctor of Humane Letters - John L. May
Archbishop of St. Louis
Doctor of Laws - John H. Poelker
Former Mayor, City of St. Louis
Doctor of Public Service - Leonard Slatkin
Music Director, Saint Louis Symphony
Doctor of Humane Letters - Leon R. Strauss
Architect and Builder
Doctor of Laws - William H. Rehnquist, LL.D.
Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
Doctor of Laws (awarded April 8, 1983)
1982
- Commencement Speaker: Peter H. Raven, Ph.D.*
Director, Missouri Botanical Garden
Doctor of Science - William H. Danforth
Chancellor, Washington University
Doctor of Laws - William Evans Douthit
President, Urban League of St. Louis
Doctor of Humane Letters - James Garber Galbraith, M.D.
Professor of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery/Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama Birmingham
Doctor of Science - John P. Raynor, S.J.
President, Marquette University
Doctor of Laws - Thomas Patrick Melady, Ph.D.
Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
Doctor of Laws (awarded April 7, 1982)
1981
- John T. Noonan Jr., LL.D.
Professor of Law, University of California-Berkeley School of Law
Doctor of Laws
1980
- William J. Hogan
Former Executive Vice President of Finance and Chairman, Finance Committee,
American Airlines
Doctor of Laws (awarded July 28, 1980) - Lord Patrick Arthur Devlin
Baron, Life Peer-retired
Doctor of Laws (awarded Oct. 18, 1980)