Famous Folks with Honorary Degrees was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
1. Kerry Washington
Washington received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from George Washington University in D.C. last year when she gave the address.
2. Maya Angelou
Affectionately referred to as Dr. Angelou, the professor never went to college but she has received over 50 honorary degrees, and was Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.
3. Jill Scott
Singer, songwriter and actress Jill Scott will be feted with a Doctor of Humane Letters on Thursday (May 15) from Temple University in her hometown of Philadelphia.
4. Tom Joyner
Tom has received Honorary Degrees from more than a dozen colleges and universities over the years.
5. Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
Gamble and Huff received honorary Degrees from the Berklee College of Music in 2010.
6. Harry Belafonte
Belafonte received an honorary Degree from the Berklee College of Music in 2014.
7. Sean Combs
Dr. P. Diddy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from Howard University earlier this month.
8. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree during Harvard’s 362nd commencement in Cambridge, MA in May of 2013, Howard University in 2007 and Duke University in 2009 and an honorary doctorate degree in education from the University of the Free State, South Africa in 2011.
9. Barack Obama
President Obama received Honorary Doctorates of Law from Knox College (2005), University of Massachusetts Boston (2006),Northwestern University (2006), Xavier University of Louisiana (2006), Southern New Hampshire University (2007), Howard University (2007) and University of Notre Dame (2009).
10. First Lady Michelle Obama
Mrs. Obama was honored for her commitment to public service by George Washington University in 2010.
11. Quincy Jones
Jones received an honorary Degree from the Berklee College of Music in 1983.
12. REGISTER NOW for the 2014 Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion taking place August 28- September 1, 2014 in Orlando, Florida! For booking information, call 407-248-9191.
13. Stevie Wonder
The University of Alabama at Birmingham presented the legendary musician with an honorary doctorate of music.
14. Valerie Simpson
Simpson received an honorary Degree from the Berklee College of Music in 2014.
15. Patti LaBelle
Legendary songstress, Patti LaBelle, a Philadelphia native with a worldwide reputation, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Temple University in 2010.
16. Nelson Mandela
South Africa’s first black President, Nelson Mandela, has been awarded around 150 honorary Doctorate Degrees.
17. George Foreman
The former heavyweight champion received an honorary doctorate from the Houston Graduate School of Theology.
18. George Clinton
Clinton received an honorary Degree from the Berklee College of Music in 2012.
19. B.B. King
Blues legend B.B. King received an honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
20. Muhammad Ali
Ali, former heavyweight boxing champion received an honorary doctorate of humanities from Princeton University in June 2007.
21. Aretha Franklin
Honoring the Queen of Soul! Franklin received several degrees, including Doctor of Music from the Berklee College of Music in 2006, University of Pennsylvania in 2007 and Yale in 2010.
22. Denzel Washington
Washington received an honorary Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2011
23. Mike Tyson
Central Ohio State University awarded Tyson with a Doctorate in Humane Letters in 1989.
24. Al Jarreau
Jarreau received an honorary Degree from the Berklee College of Music in 1991.
25. REGISTER NOW for the 2014 Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion taking place August 28- September 1, 2014 in Orlando, Florida! For booking information, call 407-248-9191.
