Suggestions for 2026 BU Honorary Degrees Welcome
Suggestions for 2026 BU Honorary Degrees Welcome
Nominations from faculty, staff, and trustees must include a letter describing the nominee’s career and impact on society
For the second year in a row, Boston University is inviting faculty, staff, and trustees to submit nominations for people deserving of honorary degrees at the all-University Commencement on May 17, 2026.
The deadline for submissions to be considered for the ceremony is coming soon—October 22. Find details about the submission process, along with a link to submit a nomination, here.
A letter to the University community sent at the start of October said: “Past recipients have included leaders in scholarship, science, the arts, public service, humanitarian efforts, and those who have made contributions to the University itself. Strong nominations should include a letter describing the nominee’s career and impact, along with a résumé/curriculum vitae or biography when possible. All nominations will be kept confidential.”
The speaker at BU’s 2025 Commencement, alum and actor Emily Deschanel (CFA’98), delivered a rousing speech focused on kindness and empathy. “Empathy isn’t weakness,” Deschanel, who is also an environmentalist and an animal rights activist, told the graduates. “It’s not about letting people off the hook for their behavior and choices. It’s about understanding what led to those choices so you can decide how to respond from a place of authenticity.”
Nominations for the 2026 Commencement should include a letter describing the individual, their career, and the impact of their contribution(s), and a curriculum vitae or biography when possible. The process is being coled by Nancy Kopell, a William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor and a professor of mathematics and statistics, and Roscoe Giles, a College of Engineering professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering.
The nomination process will be confidential, with a faculty committee reviewing submissions and providing BU President Melissa Gilliam with a list of finalists to be considered; that list will be reviewed by the BU Board of Trustees. Anyone with questions can email honorary@bu.edu.