At ceremonies throughout the academic year, including convocation and commencement, Green Mountain College awards honorary degrees to notable people who reflect the ideals of the GMC mission and serve as positive role models for students. Recipients include nationally recognized scientists, authors, elected officials and artists.
2013
Dianne Dillon-Ridgley
Honorary Doctor of Laws
International leader in Environmental Sustainability
2012
Cornelius “Con” Hogan
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Commissioner, Vermont Agency of Human Services (retired)
Majora Carter
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Founder, The Majora Carter Group
James Gustave Speth
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Founder, World Resources Institute
2011
Governor Peter Shumlin
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Governor of the State of Vermont
Thomas Grey Wicker
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Reporter for New York Times and author
Robert H. Young
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Former President and CEO of Central Vermont Public Service Corp.
2010
Alan Bean
Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
Astronaut and artist
Carol M. Browner
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Director of the White House Office on Energy and Climate Change Policy
Mel Chin
Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
Artist and activist
Lois Marie Gibbs
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Author and activist
2009
Kenneth Sherman
Honorary Doctor of Science
Director of the NOAA Office of Marine Ecosystems Studies
Peter Welch
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Vermont Congressman
2008
John F. Brennan
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
President Emeritus of GMC
Gov. James Douglas
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Governor of Vermont
Deborah Granquist
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Attorney
2007
William H. Bloom
Honorary Doctor of Science
Author and retired neurosurgeon
Martin T. Meehan
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Massachusetts Congressman, president of U-Mass Lowell
2006
Sam A. Waterston
Honorary Doctor of Letters
Actor, Oscar nominee for The Killing Fields
2005
Andrea Mead Lawrence
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, environmentalist
Tom L. Magliozzi
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Peabody Award-winning co-host of NPR's Car Talk
2004
Brian E. Dubie
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
Carl Stoddard
GMC Security Director
Posthumous Bachelor of Arts
2003
Susan Morrison
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Bishop, Troy Conference of the United Methodist Church
2002
Warren Kimble
Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
Artist and educator
James Martin
Honorary Doctor of Science
Writer, lecturer, Pulitzer Prize nominee
2001
David W. Orr
Honorary Doctor of Science
Author, environmentalist, professor at Oberlin College
2000
William Feick
Partner at William D. Witter Co., GMC trustee
Edward Hoaglund
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Writer, environmentalist, professor at Bennington College
John Todd
Honorary Doctor of Science
President of Ocean Arks International, professor at the University of Vermont
