Honorary degree nominations sought

Each year Wright State University considers the possibility of awarding honorary degrees to individuals whose contributions to society have been truly distinguished. Any faculty or staff member, alumnus or member of the Board of Trustees may submit nominations to the University Commencement Committee. Previous recipients include Dayton’s poet laureate Herbert Woodward Martin, former Sinclair Community College President David Ponitz, Dayton philanthropist Virginia Kettering, former Ohio governors Richard Celeste and James Rhodes and novelist John Jakes.

Anyone wishing to make a nomination for either the June or November commencement ceremonies in 2011 must submit a pre-nomination letter to Jacob Dorn, professor of history and chair of the committee, by January 5, 2011. For questions or to submit pre-nomination letters, please email jacob.dorn@wright.edu or stop by his office, 363 Millett Hall.

Confidentiality is extremely important. The nominator should not inform the potential nominee or solicit external letters of support. The committee will review pre-nomination letters received by the January deadline to determine whether a nomination will receive further consideration. If so, the nominator will have until March 1, 2011, to provide additional materials.

Visit http://www.wright.edu/academics/fhandbook/HonoraryDegree.html for complete details regarding the policy governing the awarding of honorary degrees.