Honoris causa

At its 149th Commencement on May 19, the University presented honorary degrees to five distinguished individuals. Read about the honorees here; their degree citations are below.

Carnegie Corporation of New York President Dame Louise Richardson

As a scholar, academic administrator, and philanthropic leader, Dame Louise Richardson has set many precedents in her life and career. She was first in her family to attend college and the first female to lead the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and Oxford University in England. In January 2023, she became the first woman to serve as president of the Carnegie Corporation, one of America’s oldest and most prestigious philanthropic foundations, which promotes democracy, education, and peace initiatives across the globe. During her tenure, the Carnegie Corporation has funded innovative proposals fostering international peace and security, democracy in the United States, and education, including initiatives in literacy, urban school reform, and teacher preparation. A political scientist who received a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University, she has conducted research and written extensively about international terrorism and foreign policy, advocating interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the political roots of extremism as an alternative to military-led responses. In her institutional roles, she drew praise for defending freedom of speech, advancing racial equality, and recruiting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In recognition of her commitment to education, peace, and political discourse, Boston College proudly awards Dame Louise Richardson the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. 

 Geoffrey Canada

Throughout his life, Geoffrey Canada has been energized by a deep desire to help youth from under-resourced communities thrive and succeed through education and mentoring. As the founder and board president of the Harlem Children’s Zone, a network of programs focused on increasing graduation rates among at-risk students in New York City, he developed a national model for fighting intergenerational poverty. Born in a South Bronx neighborhood suffering from poverty, crime, and violence, he benefited from his mother’s focus on education and her decision to send him to live with her parents on Long Island for high school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Bowdoin College, and later a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2011 he was named by Time magazine as one of the world’s most influential people, and in 2014 as one of the world’s 50 greatest leaders by Fortune. A gifted writer, he has won praise for his two books on the experiences of young males in urban America. For his lifelong contributions to the education of youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and for promoting social and economic mobility, Boston College awards Geoffrey Canada the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa.

 Salim G. Daccache, S.J.

As head of Saint Joseph University of Beirut, the only Jesuit institution of higher education in the Arab world, Salim Daccache, S.J., has sought to enhance interreligious understanding and dialogue as a Jesuit priest and educator. Serving at a school founded in 1875 and enrolling 12,000 students from all backgrounds and both Christian and Muslim faith traditions, he has led effectively through a period of great instability, including war, financial crisis, and the deadly 2020 port explosion in Beirut that left hundreds dead and damaged the university’s five campuses. A native of Lebanon, he speaks Arabic, English, French, and Italian and serves as director of the Lebanese Association of Friendship and Islamic-Christian Dialogue. He holds a Ph.D. in literature and philosophy from Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris, and a Ph.D. in educational sciences from the University of Strasbourg. For his extraordinary service to Jesuit higher education, he was awarded the St. Peter Canisius Medal in 2022 by the International Association of Jesuit Universities. In recognition of his dedication to the Society of Jesus and steadfast commitment to education and interreligious dialogue, Boston College bestows on Salim G. Daccache, S.J., the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

Doris Kearns Goodwin

World-renowned historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin has brought American history to life for generations, often through a focus on the American presidency. Her New York Times best-selling biographies of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson have deepened understanding of their distinctive contributions and factors that shaped our nation. She has further animated her subjects and fostered appreciation of American history and culture through several documentary miniseries. A forthcoming feature film will be based on her recent award-winning volume An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, drawn from materials collected by her late husband concerning that turbulent decade. During her distinguished career, she has received such prestigious awards as the inaugural American History Book Prize from the New York Historical Society and the Gold Medal for Biography from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She is frequently called upon by the news media, educational institutions, and government agencies to provide historical context and insights regarding leadership and contemporary issues. For her lasting contributions to the United States and its history, Boston College proudly presents Doris Kearns Goodwin the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

Archbishop Richard G. Henning

Named archbishop of Boston by Pope Francis in August of 2024, the Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., leads an archdiocese that includes approximately 1.8 million Catholics and 250 parishes. Prior to coming to Boston, he served as the bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, and as an auxiliary bishop in Rockville Centre, New York, which includes his hometown. The son of a firefighter and nurse whose service he credits for inspiring his vocation, he received his training for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York, and was ordained in 1992. He received a doctorate in biblical theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 2007. Fluent in Spanish and Italian, he is active in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, both on the Doctrine Committee and the Subcommittee for the Church in Latin America, and as the chair of the Subcommittee for the Translation of the Sacred Scriptures. He is also known for his work with international priests in the United States. In recognition of his ministry and leadership in the Church, Boston College confers on Richard G. Henning the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.