List of Hofstra University Honorary Degree Recipients

This is a list of honorary degree recipients from Hofstra University in New York.

  • Rand Araskog, CEO of ITT Corporation, 1990.
  • Jan Peter Balkenende, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Received honorary doctorate, May 2011.
  • Joseph Bologna, Actor. Received degree, Spring 2002.
  • Tom Brokaw, Anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. Received degree in 1985.
  • Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and CEO, American Express Company. May, 2007.
  • Barbara Bush, Former First Lady of the United States. Received honorary doctorate, April 1997.
  • George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States. Received honorary doctorate, April 1997.
  • Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States. Received honorary degree, November 2005 at 11th Hofstra Presidential Conference entitled; "William Jefferson Clinton: The "New Democrat"".
  • William L. Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, former diplomat and United States Ambassador, and United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Under Secretary General.
  • Elizabeth Coleman, Ninth president of Bennington College.
  • Nelson DeMille, (Hofstra Alumni-1970) Additionally, was awarded Doctor of Humane Letters.
  • Brian Dennehy, December, 2003.
  • Cy Leslie, Record industry executive. Received honorary degree in 1974.
  • E.L. Doctorow, Prominent author of Ragtime, etc. Received Honorary degree, May, 2004.
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower, former five-star general and 34th President of the United States (1953–1961). During the Second World War, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe. Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, Hofstra College, 1950.
  • Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States. Received honorary degree in 1981.
  • Alan Greenspan, Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
  • Helen Hayes, nicknamed "First Lady of the American Theater" because she was one of nine people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award. Received honorary degree in 1990.
  • Alfred Heineken, former president of the brewing company Heineken International. Received honorary degree in 1996.
  • Billy Joel, Musician, "Rock Star". Received Honorary degree in 1997.
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights leader. Received degree in 1965. In a letter written on July 2, 1965 to President Lord, Dr. King states that "I can assure you it is a privilege and an honor to be an alumnus of Hofstra."
  • Robert Wood Johnson IV, Chairman and CEO, The Johnson Company and owner of the New York Jets.
  • Jeffrey Lyons, NBC Film and theater critic. Received honorary degree, May 2000.
  • Harold W. McGraw Jr., Chairman Emeritus, McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.
  • Robert Moses, "Master builder" of the 20th century. received honorary degree in 1948.
  • LeRoy Neiman, Artist. Honorary Doctor of Arts Degree, 1998.
  • David Neeleman, Founder of JetBlue Airways, received honorary degree in 2007.
  • Bernadette Peters, actress/singer received an Honorary Doctorate degree on May 19, 2002.
  • Cokie Roberts, Journalist. Received her degree in 2003.
  • Jihan Sadat, 1987- wife of Anwar el-Sadat, the assassinated President of Egypt. Mrs. Sadat received her degree by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
  • Neil Simon, Noted Playwright/screenwriter. received honorary degree in 1981.
  • Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Received Honorary Degree, 2000.
  • Paul A. Volcker, 1987- chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, who was honored by the School of Business.
  • Barbara Walters, American journalist, writer and media personality. Received Honorary degree in 1986.
  • James D. Watson, Dr. Watson is an American molecular biologist best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule. Also winner of Nobel prize. Received honorary degree in 1976.
  • Frank Zarb, (Hofstra Alumni-BBA-1957, MBA-1962.) Awarded honorary Doctor of Law degree.

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