Special Honors & Awards

Each fall, the Council on University Honors & Awards considers nominations for honorary degrees to be conferred at a future graduation service. Andrews University will confer the following honorary doctoral degrees:

Doctor of Divinity (DD) For distinguished church leadership in administration, writing, or preaching that reflects an influence of unusual merit at the national or international level.
Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) For creative, original contributions in the fields of architecture, design, painting, sculpture, and related fields.
Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) For scholarly achievement in writing in the liberal arts and humanities and also for unusual service to society.
Doctor of Laws (LLD) For distinguished leadership in administration and public service in business, education, finance, government, and public life.
Doctor of Literature (LittD) For a significant body of creative literature.
Doctor of Music (MusD) For composition, theory, or music performance of rare and lasting importance.
Doctor of Pedagogy (PedD) For service in education especially as an honored teacher.
Doctor of Science (ScD.) For demonstrated investigative achievement in the natural or physical science or major contributions to medical science.

The criteria can be read here and a complete list of recipients here.

Recent Honorary Degree Recipients

Spring 2023
- Daniel Richard Jackson
- Juan R. Prestol-Puesán
- Monte C. Sahlin
Summer 2022
- Surangel S. Whipps, Jr.
Spring 2022
- Nina R. Atcheson
- Roger H. Pak
Spring 2021
- Wintley A. Phipps
Spring 2019
- David K. Maraga
- Marianne L. Thieme
Summer 2019
- Erland Pettman

John Nevins Andrews Medallion

The Council also considers nominations from among its faculty for the John Nevins Andrews Medallion for Teaching Excellence. This surprise award is presented to a faculty member at a graduation service. You can read the criteria here, and see a complete list of John Nevins Andrews Medallion recipients here.

Recipients
Spring 2023
- Ronald D. Coffen
- Janet Ledesma
- Andrea Luxton
Spring 2022
- Denis Fortin
- Anneris Coria-Navia
- Katherine Koudele
Spring 2019
- Teresa Reeve
- Alayne Thorpe
Summer 2019
- Jimmy Kijai
- James J. North Jr.