2024 Honorary Degree Recipients
Information on SWAGÊÓƵ's 2024 Honorary Degree Recipient(s) is coming soon.
Previous Honorary Degree Recipients
2023
- Ronald A. Crutcher, D.M.A., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Elizabeth A. McLellan, M.S.N, M.P.H., D.M.S. ‘19, Doctor of Humane Letters
2022
- Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
- David Evans Shaw, M.B.A., Doctor of Science
2021
- Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D., director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
2019
- Judy Glickman Lauder, Internationally Recognized Photographer, Humanitarian, and Philanthropist, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
- Janet T. Mills, J.D., Governor of Maine, Honorary Doctor of Laws
2018
- Catherine A. Sanderson, Ph.D., Manwell Family Professor of Life Sciences (Psychology), Amherst College, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2017
- Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2016
- Dr. Robert Michael Franklin, Jr., Professor, Emory University and Director of the Religion Department, Chautauqua Institution, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2015
- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, President/CEO, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
- Michael McCarthy, Principal, King Middle School, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2014
- Gregory W. Powell, J.D., CEO/President of Dexter Enterprises, Inc, and Chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation, Honorary Doctor of Laws
2013
- Wesley McNair, Poet Laureate of Maine, Honorary Doctor of Letters
2012
- Chellie Pingree, U.S. Representative, Honorary Doctor of Laws
- Theodora J. Kalikow, Ph.D., Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2011
- Michael Michaud, U.S. Representative, Honorary Doctor of Laws
2010
- Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D, Honorary Doctor of Science
2009
- Dr. Rita Colwell, Honorary Doctor of Science
2008
- Former Governor John McKernan, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Dr. Victor McKusick, Honorary Doctor of Science
- Vincent McKusick, Honorary Doctor of Laws
2007
- Neil Rolde, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Bernard Osher, Doctor of Laws
2006
- Paul Wescott, Doctor of Laws
- A. Leroy Greason, Ph D, Doctor of Humane Letters
2005
- Claire Van Ummersen, Doctor of Humane Letters
2004
- Ambassador Aziz Mekouar, Doctor of Laws
2003
- Ambassador Christopher R. Thomas, Honorary Doctor of Laws
2002
- Daniel Wathen (speaker), Doctor of Laws
- Bettsanne Holmes, Doctor of Laws
- Wilma Redman, Doctor of Laws
2001
- Congressman Tom Allen (speaker), U.S. Congressman, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Rev. Franklin Littell, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Owen Wells, Doctor of Laws
2000
- Jack S. Ketchum, Doctor of Humane Letters
- William Cotter, Doctor of Humane Letters
1999
- Susan Collins (speaker), U.S. Senator from Maine, Doctor of Laws
- Laurence Ianni, Ph.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Si Kahn, Ph.D., Doctor of Health Sciences
1998
- Admiral Jack Hayes, Doctor of Laws
1997
University Campus:
- Marvin Wachman, Ph.D. (speaker), Chancellor, Temple University, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Rev. James Ronan, Ph.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
Westbrook College Campus:
- Patrick Swygert (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- Mary Grefe, Doctor of Laws
1996
- Olympia Snowe (speaker), U.S. Senator from Maine, Doctor of Laws
- Barbara Weisberger, Founder of Pennsylvania Ballet, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Judge Raymond Broderick, Federal Judge, Doctor of Laws
1995
- Judith Isaacson (speaker), Holocaust Survivor, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Mary Sarton, Author/Poet, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Charlene Rydell, State Legislator, Doctor of Laws
- Alexander Theroux, Author, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Sister Priscille Roy, Missonary, Doctor of Laws
1994
- Rev. John Brooks (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- Antonine Maillet, Ph.D., Doctor of Laws
1993
- Thomas Andrews (speaker), Doctor of Laws
- Louis Rabineau, Ed.D. , Doctor of Humane Letters
- Robert Gardiner, Ph.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
1992
- Dorothy Cotton (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- James Williams, Jr., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Rudolfo Anaya, Doctor of Humane Letters
1991
- Marie Gadsden, Ph.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Nancy T. Watts, Ph.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Honorable Robert E. White, Doctor of Humane Letters
1990
- George Mitchell (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- Gene Leroy Schwilck, Doctor of Humane Letters
1989
- Wilson Hurley, L.L.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Andrew McGuire (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- A. Poulin, Jr., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Gavin Ruotolo, Doctor of Humane Letters
1988
- Dr. David Matthews (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- Dr. Audrey Cohen, Doctor of Humane Letters
1987
- Marian Wright Edelman Daniel B. Merriam, Master of Humane Letters
- Matina Souretis Horner, Ph.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Dodge Morgan (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- Anthony Gelardi & Paul Gelardi Doctor of Economics
- James L. Moody Jr., Doctor of Economics
1986
- Wilma Pearl Mankiller (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
1985
- Associate Justice Caroline D. Glassman, Doctor of Laws
- Ms. Eunice Spooner, Master of Humane Letters
1984
- Governor Joseph E. Brennan (speaker), Doctor of Economics
- Francis T. Spencer, Doctor of Economics
- Marguerite Kyte, Doctor of Humane Letters
1983
- Henry W. Aplington, Jr., Ph.D., Doctor of Science
- Arthur Elliott Levine (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- Conrad Grondin, Doctor of Economics
1982
- Geoffrey Peter Faux, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Bruce Hangen, Degree of Fine Arts
- Dr. Kingsley Kay, Doctor of Science
- James Russell Wiggins (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
1981
- Honorable William S. Cohen (speaker), Doctor of Laws
- Elsa Marie Meder, Ph.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
- Charles W. Sauter, II, D.O., Doctor of Humane Letters
1980
- William J. Caldwell (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- Honorable Elmont S. Tyndale, Doctor of Humane Letters
1979
- F. Stephen Larrabee, Ph.D. (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
1978
- Benjamin M. Ziegler, Ph.D. (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
1977
- Mary D. Merrill, Distinguished Service Award, (No Honorary Degree Offered)
1976
- Robert J. Lurtsema, B.S., Doctor of Humane Letters
1975
- Dr. Scott Nearing (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
- William F. Kearns Jr., Doctor of Public Service
1974
- Robert E. L. Strider, Ph.D., President of Colby College, Doctor of Humane Letters
- The Honorable William B. Hathaway, U.S. Senator from Maine, Doctor of Laws
- Reverend Paul C. Reinert (speaker), President of St. Louis University, Doctor of Humane Letters
1973
- Rev. Robert J. White, Msgr., Doctor of Laws
- The Honorable Edward Thaxter Gignoux, Doctor of Laws
- Dr. Kenneth E. Eble (speaker), Doctor of Humane Letters
1972
- Dr. Richard Weigle(speaker), President of St. John's University, Doctor of Humane Letters
1971
- The Honorable Kenneth M. Curtis (speaker), Doctor of Laws
- The Honorable Thomas J. Paolino, Assoc. Justice of Supreme Court of Rhode Island, Doctor of Laws
- William S. Huber, Professor Emeritus at Rhode Island School of Design, Doctor of Laws
1970
- Dr. Edward Y. Blewett, President of Westbrook Junior College, Doctor of Laws
- Sterling Dow, Ph.D., Professor of Archeology at Harvard College, Doctor of Humane Letters
- The Honorable James L. Farmer (speaker), Asst. Secretary, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Doctor of Humane Letters
1969
- The Honorable Frank Licht (speaker), Governor of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, Doctor of Laws
- Rt. Rev. Frederick Barton Wolf, Episcopal Diocese of Maine, Doctor of Laws
- Mr. Waldemar A. Roebuck, President of North American Federation of the Third Order of St. Francis, Doctor of Humane Letters
1968
- Mr. Edwin D. Canham (speaker), Editor-in-Chief, Christian Science Monitor, Doctor of Laws
- Rt. Rev. Msgr Adrien G. Verrette, Pastor, St. Georgie's Church, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Mr. Carl Burton Stokes, Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, Doctor of Law
1967
- The Most Rev. Peter Leo Gerety, Coadjutor Bishop of Portland, Doctor of Laws
- Dr. Donald M. MacKenzie (speaker), President of Park College, Doctor of Laws
1966
- Mr. Lionel B. Kavanagh, President of Standard Tool Company, Doctor of Science
- Rev. Bernard Haring (speaker), Department of Religious Studies, Brown University, Doctor of Laws
1965
- Mr. J. Henri Goguen, President General of L'Union St-Jean-Baptiste d'Amerique, Doctor of Laws
- Most Rev. Ernest Primeau (speaker), Bishop of Manchester, Doctor of Laws
- Rev. Sister M. Carmel Therriault, President of St. Joseph's College, Doctor of Education
- Bro. Cajetan J. B. Baumann, O.F.M., Doctor of ScienceMr. Harold D. Carroll, Esq., Doctor of Laws
- Very Rev. Luke M. Chabot, O.F.M. Minister Provincial, Doctor of Laws
1964
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Armand E. Cyr, Holy Rosary Rectory, Doctor of Education
- Dr. John W. McDeVitt (speaker), Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Doctor of Laws
1963
- Rev. Georges-Albert Laplante, O.F.M. Doctor of Letters
- Dr. Robert H. McCarn Doctor of Letters
- Dr. Philip Lambert (speaker)
1962
- Most Rev. Daniel J. Feeney, Bishop of Portland, Doctor of Laws
- Rev. Fernand Porter, O.F.M., Doctor of Letters
1961
- Joseph E. Sullivan, Sr., Doctor of Letters
- Senator Edmund S. Muskie, Doctor of Law
- Dr. Joseph R. Larochelle, Doctor of Letters
- Rev. Edward V. Stanford (speaker), Doctor of Education