August 1, 2019
Dear Members of the CMU Community:
I am writing to invite and encourage you to nominate candidates to be considered for honorary degrees from Carnegie Mellon University at our spring commencement ceremony in Pittsburgh on May 16-17, 2020.
The CMU honorary degree is one of the highest distinctions the university bestows on an individual. Recipients serve as an inspiration to the Carnegie Mellon community, especially to members of the graduating class. Recognizing them reinforces the significant scope of the university and enhances the commencement ceremony by highlighting the importance of the university in the world. Learn more about the honorary degree nomination process and past recipients.
We seek to honor a diverse cohort of individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to their professions, to our nation, or to the world, and whose life and work are broadly connected to the highest aims and aspirations of this university. Nominees must be distinguished individuals who meet at least two of the following criteria:
- Achieved pre-eminent levels of distinction in their fields and demonstrated extraordinary achievements, preferably those associated with educational, research, or performance programs at Carnegie Mellon;
- Exhibited respect and appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship and service to society; or
- Demonstrated an extraordinary lifetime of service to Carnegie Mellon that has had a demonstrable positive impact on the university and its community.
Please submit nominations no later than September 20, using the online form. If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Light, secretary of the corporation and adviser to the president, at 412-268-5345 or via email at calight@andrew.cmu.edu. The timeline for this process has been moved earlier from previous years in the interest of identifying and securing an exceptional list of outstanding candidates in a timely manner.
Thank you for your nominations, which will help identify another distinguished group of CMU honorary degree recipients.
Kind regards,
Farnam Jahanian
President
Henry L. Hillman President’s Chair