UMass Boston

Speakers, Honorary Degrees, and Faculty & Student Awards

Candidates for honorary degrees shall be persons of great accomplishment and high ethical standards who exemplify the ideals of the University of Massachusetts Boston. UMass Boston is fortunate to have such an impressive list of recipients which include government officials, journalists, authors, artists, and athletes.

The University of Massachusetts Boston is rightly recognized for the excellence of its faculty. Each year during the commencement season, we celebrate the accomplishments of faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional contributions in one of the three primary areas of faculty responsibility by presenting them with the Chancellor’s Awards for Distinguished Scholarship, Teaching, and Service.

The JFK Award was designed to be the highest commencement award that an undergraduate could receive. Nominees are evaluated on the basis of their academic record, their service contributions, and their overall contributions as a "citizen" of the University and of the world.

2025 Honorees

Honorees will be announced in early 2025. Check back for more information later in the semester.