Anne M. Davis
As befits the vice chairman of a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel, the career of Anne Davis can only be described as “high performance.” She joined New Balance in 1977 as its first director of human resources, seeking to build a caring, vibrant culture for its employees. She hit the ground running – introducing progressive training, teamwork, and motivational techniques that helped propel the company forward so that today it ranks among the world’s most respected shoe manufacturers.
As managing trustee of the New Balance Foundation, she manifests an abiding concern for future generations and is an effective proponent of healthy lifestyles and fitness for individuals and communities. She has overseen the distribution of millions of dollars in support of education and initiatives seeking to confront and overcome the challenge of childhood obesity.
A devoted mother of two – one a Boston College graduate – she balances in impressive fashion the demands of work and family. For her multiple roles as successful businesswoman, steadfast guardian of corporate culture and values, and tireless advocate for health and well-being, Boston College awards Anne Davis the degree of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa.
James S. Davis
With the determination of a marathon athlete, the spirit of an entrepreneur, and the generous heart of a philanthropist, James S. “Jim” Davis has succeeded in helping our country become more physically fit and economically competitive.
On the day of Boston’s famed Marathon in 1972, he became the owner of the New Balance Corporation in Brighton – then a local firm of just six employees that produced 30 pairs of custom-made running shoes per day. Today, New Balance employs more than 5,000 people around the globe and has grown into the nation’s largest private company in the sporting goods industry.
Along with directing the impressive growth and popularity of New Balance products, he has long supported efforts to advance health and fitness among all Americans. Recently, the New Balance Foundation joined First Lady Michelle Obama in a campaign to end childhood obesity and to promote healthy lifestyles for children and families. Earlier this year, it established the Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention, Clinical Research and Care at Boston’s Children’s Hospital.
Boston College salutes this dedicated father, businessman, and champion of health, and confers on James Davis the degree of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa.
Ray LaHood
People today are constantly on the move – via air, land, and sea. As Secretary of Transportation, it is Ray LaHood’s responsibility to ensure that all travelers in the United States arrive as efficiently and safely as possible.
Heading an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a $70 billion budget, Secretary LaHood has supported initiatives to build a national high-speed passenger rail network, strengthen commercial bus and driver safety, protect airline consumers, and upgrade America’s oil and gas pipeline network. He has elevated the Secretary of Transportation office to a new level of public visibility, with 6,600 Facebook fans, 17,400 followers on Twitter, and a Fast Lane blog that boasts upwards of 40,000 or more hits a week.
A native of Peoria, Illinois, and once a junior high social studies teacher, he served as a Republican Congressman for 14 years, earning a reputation for consensus-building and promoting bipartisanship and civility among his colleagues. His willingness to reach across the aisle figured prominently in President Barack Obama’s decision to select him as a Cabinet member.
Boston College recognizes Ray LaHood for his integrity, example, and public service, and confers on him the degree of Doctor of Public Administration honoris causa.
James P. McIntyre
During his half-century as a student and administrator at “the Heights,” James P. McIntyre has had an immense impact on the evolution of Boston College. He played a significant role in the development of the “Mods,” the Flynn Recreation Complex, Robsham Theater, Conte Forum, Merkert Chemistry Center, and the current Alumni Stadium. He also helped establish BC’s financial aid program and directed the University’s first major capital campaign.
He holds three degrees from Boston College and became the first lay vice president here in 1968, when he was named head of Student Affairs. Eight years later, he was appointed Vice President for University Relations, and in 1986 he assumed his current post as Senior Vice President. His 43 consecutive years of service as a vice president are unmatched in Jesuit higher education in the United States.
He has served on the boards of the Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority and Malden Catholic High School, his alma mater. He and his wife, Monica, met while working in BC admissions, married in 1962, and built their own Eagle’s Nest, raising six children – Mary, Peter, James Jr., Ann, Karalyn, and David – all BC alumni.
For his many contributions and unwavering commitment, Boston College awards James P. McIntyre the degree of Doctor of Science in Education, honoris causa.
Sylvia Q. Simmons
Throughout her life as a teacher, administrator, wife, and parent, Sylvia Q. Simmons has sought to make education an achievable goal for all. She began her career as a Montessori school instructor and later became an administrator in the Head Start preschool program. She subsequently worked as associate dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard and Radcliffe, and as associate vice president for academic affairs at the University of Massachusetts. In the 1990s, she served as vice president and eventually president of American Student Assistance, a corporation that helps students and families finance the cost of college education. Her competence and reputation led Governor Deval Patrick in 2010 to ask that she assist in the development of a 10-year strategic plan for education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
She earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the Lynch School of Education, and in 1966 became the first African-American female administrator at Boston College, when she was named registrar of the School of Management. In 1990 she was appointed a trustee of her alma mater, and currently serves as a trustee associate on the Student Life Committee.
In recognition of her steadfast devotion to education, administrative excellence, and service, Boston College declares Sylvia Q. Simmons Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.