2003: Honorary degrees

U.S. Surgeon General among WFU honorary degree recipients

By Sarah Mansell
Posted on May 19, 2003

Wake Forest University awarded five honorary degrees during its commencement ceremony May 19. The ceremony featured New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as speaker.

The university presented honorary doctor of laws degrees to Bloomberg and to Martha W. Barnett, partner in the law firm Holland & Knight and chair of the firm’s directors’ committee. Barnett delivered the hooding address for the Wake Forest School of Law May 18.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard H. Carmona.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard H. Carmona.

Richard Carmona, 17th surgeon general of the United States, and Eric Olson, chairman of molecular biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a graduate of Wake Forest, each received an honorary doctor of science degree. Carmona delivered the hooding address for the Wake Forest School of Medicine May 18.

Martin E. Marty
Martin E. Marty

Martin E. Marty, author, theologian and the Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago Divinity School, received an honorary doctor of divinity degree. Marty addressed the university’s 20 new Divinity School graduates at a special ceremony following commencement.