Honorees
Congratulations to the Honorary Degree Recipients of 2026!
During the 158th Howard University Commencement, honorary degrees will be awarded to leaders among the most distinguished in their respective fields, each demonstrating an enduring commitment to excellence and service. As we prepare to celebrate the Class of 2026, we are honored to include these individuals whose contributions have inspired communities and shaped the world in meaningful ways.
The Honorable Muriel Bowser
Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree
The Honorable Muriel Bowser, the seventh elected mayor of Washington, D.C., will serve as Commencement speaker and receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. Bowser has a distinguished record of public service and leadership spanning more than two decades. A fifth-generation Washingtonian, she is only the second person elected three times as Washington D.C. mayor and the first African American woman elected to three four-year terms as mayor of a major American city. The African American Mayors Association named Bowser as the inaugural recipient of the Marion Barry Jr. Award for Public Service in 2023 and the Truman Center for National Policy recognized her with its 2021 Exceptional Moral Courage Award, further recognizing her enduring commitment to her city and its residents. A former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and member of the D.C. Council, Bowser has advanced a bold urban policy agenda: strengthening DC’s economic competitiveness, accelerating affordable housing production, and guiding the city through the global pandemic with resolve. A steadfast champion of higher education, she has consistently supported policies and investments that expand opportunity and strengthen pathways to success.
Rosalind G. Brewer
Candidate for Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree
Rosalind G. Brewer, Spelman College interim president and board chair emerita, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Brewer is a trailblazing corporate executive whose leadership redefined what is possible at the highest levels of American business. Across healthcare, retail, hospitality, and education, she has consistently delivered transformative results while opening doors for others to follow. Her service as president and CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, COO of Starbucks, president and CEO of Sam’s Club, and chair emerita of the Spelman College Board of Trustees reflects a career of uncommon impact and influence. Now serving as interim president of her alma mater Spelman College, Brewer continues to lead with purpose and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity through education.
Antoine Garibaldi, Ph.D.
Candidate for Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree
Antoine Garibaldi, Ph.D. (B.A. ’73), president emeritus and Distinguished University Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Garibaldi has authored 11 books and more than 100 research articles and book chapters on education and Black male academic achievement. The third longest-serving president of Detroit Mercy, Garibaldi was the Jesuit institution’s first layperson to serve as president and the first publicly acknowledged Black president of any Jesuit college since 1789. During Garibaldi’s 11 years as president, Detroit Mercy rose into the ranks of the top 200 U.S. News and World Report “Best National Universities.” He led $215 million in fundraising, added new programs, improved campus infrastructure, and acquired a new campus in Novi, Michigan. Prior to Detroit Mercy, Garibaldi served as president of Gannon University and provost and chief academic officer at Howard. He also served as chair of the Council of Independent Colleges. He graduated magna cum laude from Howard with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1973.
Robert (Bob) Iger
Candidate for Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree
Robert (Bob) Iger, immediate past CEO of The Walt Disney Company, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. For two decades, Iger has served in numerous leadership roles at the iconic company, including CEO, chairman of the board of directors, executive chairman, president and chief operating officer, and chairman of the ABC Group. Under his leadership, the company grew in scale and profitability with the establishment of a major streaming service and the acquisitions of Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox and was frequently named by Forbes as one of the “Most Reputable Companies” in the world and named by Fortune as one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.” In 2023, Time named him one of the “100 Most Influential People” and featured him on the cover. A member of the Television Academy Hall of Fame, he wrote the New York Times best-selling book “The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company.”
Rev. Richard L. Smallwood
Candidate for Honorary Doctor of Music Degree
The Reverend Richard L. Smallwood (B.A. ’71, M.Div. ’04), will receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree posthumously. A founding member of the Howard Gospel Choir, Smallwood leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that has touched generations. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, he profoundly influenced Gospel music through compositions that gave voice to faith, resilience, and hope. His work, including beloved songs “Total Praise,” “The Center of My Joy,” and “I Love the Lord,” became enduring touchstones for global audiences. Howard is proud to honor one of its own whose gifts uplifted the church, the culture, and the broader human spirit.
