Honorary doctoral degrees are awarded by Boise State University to recognize individuals of outstanding accomplishment in scholarship, creativity, public service, education, or contributions to human welfare.
Recipients of honorary doctoral degrees exhibit careers of extraordinary and lasting distinction that inspire students and promote values esteemed by the university. Their contributions to the community and world at large are unparalleled, and because of this, Boise State confers this rare achievement on a select few.
Honorary doctoral degrees can only be awarded at a university commencement ceremony, and are not necessarily awarded each semester.
For more information on selection, procedure, and nomination guidelines, visit the Honorary Doctoral Degrees Policy.
Provost Buckwalter invites nominations for honorary doctorate recipients.
To submit a nomination, please email the following (to the extent possible) to the Office of the Provost (provost@boisestate.edu) by October 1 for Winter Commencement, and February 1 for Spring Commencement:
- A resume summarizing the nominee’s education, career, honors, and awards, with the items in each major section listed in chronological order.
- A brief discussion of the nominee’s accomplishments, the impact of those accomplishments, and their relationship to either or both the university and the State of Idaho.
The nominations will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Committee of the Faculty Senate, and all qualified nominations will be forwarded to President Tromp for consideration.
Nominees from previous years who were not selected can be re-nominated for consideration in subsequent years.
Boise State Honorary Doctorate Recipients
| 2024 | Butch Otter, Cherie Buckner-Webb |
| 2022 | Sanjay Mehrotra |
| 2019 | Hamdi Ulukaya, Judge Sergio Gutierrez |
| 2018 | Robert G. Miller |
| 2016 | Timothy Egan |
| 2015 | Greg Carr |
| 2014 | Marilyn Shuler |
| 2012 | Allen Dykman |
| 2011 | John Elorriaga |
| 2010 | Velma Morrison |
| 2009 | Bethine Church |
| 2008 | Barbara Morgan |
| 2007 | Steve Appleton |
| 2006 | Ralph R. Peterson |
| 2005 | Deng Pufang |
| 2004 | Cecil Andrus, Michael Hoffman |