An additional two degrees will be handed out at commencement in May, but they won’t be awarded to Ohio University students.
An additional two degrees will be handed out at commencement in May, but they won’t be awarded to Ohio University students.
Samuel Crowl, a professor Emeritus of English, and James E. Hansen, an adjunct professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University, were both named honorary degree recipients after approval from the Board of Trustees on Friday.
Crowl will be awarded a doctorate of humane letters, while Hansen will be awarded a doctorate of science.
The university bestows honorary degrees every year to individuals who have contributed service to OU through professional pursuits, business, governmental or civic affairs and other factors.
“Honorary degrees are indeed important since they are doctoral degrees,” said Damian Nance, a Distinguished Professor of geological sciences and faculty chair of the Honorary Degree Committee, in an email. “The candidate must have done something that the university feels is worthy of such a degree.”
Crowl, who has worked at OU for more than 40 years and is a renowned Shakespeare scholar, served OU as an English professor, chair of Faculty Senate and dean of the University College. He currently teaches one English course at OU, though he is technically retired.
“One of the great joys of being a college professor is that you have a lot of opportunities to serve the university in a variety of ways beyond the traditional teaching and research that we all do,” Crowl said. “This is a wonderful honor.”
Hansen is best known for his creation of a climate model, Model Zero, which he used to predict climate changes from the 1970s to 1990s. He is seen as a pioneering researcher on climate change. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
According to university documents, Hansen’s work has “directly and indirectly” led to efforts on OU’s campuses to promote economic sustainability.
To make OU’s campus more eco-friendly, the university is currently following a Sustainability Plan and a Climate Action Plan.
Hansen did not return the Post’s requests for comment.
Recipients of honorary degrees do not receive money, but have spoken at commencement in the past.
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