Honorary Degree Recipients

California State University, Northridge has conferred honorary doctorates to the following individuals in recognition of their exceptional professional achievements and meaningful contributions to society. 

All honorary degrees awarded by California State University, Northridge are conferred by the Board of Trustees of the California State University, in the name of Cal State Northridge and the California State University. The university will accept nominations for honorary degrees throughout the year. However, in order to be considered for the spring conferral, please submit your nomination by the Friday of the second week of October prior to Commencement.

If you would like to nominate a person who has "demonstrated excellence in areas that benefit CSU campuses, the state, nation, and/or world", please make your submission using the form below or email honorarydegree@csun.edu.

Honorary Degree Nomination Form

The Board of Trustees announces their selection of Honorary Degree recipients in the spring semester. A complete list of honorary degrees awarded by California State University and detailed information pertaining to the conferral policy is available on the CSU Website.

 

 Honorary Degree Recipients 2024

a person looking forward

Debra Farar

California State University (CSU) Trustee Emerita Debra Farar '75, M.A. '87 is an inspirational leader and mentor who has devoted her career to transforming lives through service and an unwavering commitment to social justice and quality education for California students.

A first-generation college graduate and distinguished alumna, Trustee Emerita Farar earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from CSUN and her doctoral degree in education from Pepperdine University. She served as an elementary school teacher and as senior education policy advisor for then-Lieutenant Governor Gray Davis. Appointed by Governor Davis to the CSU Board of Trustees in 1999, Trustee Emerita Farar went on to become the longest-serving trustee in recent CSU history, serving as chair of the CSU Board for two years.

a person looking forward

Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor '82 is an accomplished engineer, lawyer, financial services leader and community builder who utilizes his skills and resources to create opportunities and open doors for others.

Taylor earned his undergraduate degree in engineering at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) while participating in the Minority Engineering Program, where he credits faculty mentors and the MEP community for helping him to not simply excel in his studies but also to begin developing the insight and skills essential to achieving his highest aspirations. Following CSUN he earned his MBA and law degree at Stanford University, then launched his career at McKinsey & Company, one of the world’s most-recognized management consulting firms.

a person looking forward

Andrew Anagnost

Dr. Andrew Anagnost, '87, a global innovator and thought leader in technology solutions, is a champion of diversity in STEM education and for creating opportunities for students to discover and achieve their highest aspirations.

Dr. Anagnost earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and both his master’s in engineering science and his Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering and Computer Science from Stanford University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at NASA Ames Research Center. His career spans more than 25 years of product, business, and marketing experience focused on driving strategy, transformation and product development and includes positions at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company and EXA Corporation before joining Autodesk in 1997. Dr. Anagnost was named as Autodesk’s president and CEO in 2017 and serves as a member of the Autodesk Board of Directors.

a person looking forward

David Nazarian

David Nazarian '82, a successful business leader and entrepreneur, is passionate about education as the key to the American dream, his own included.

After immigrating from Iran in 1979, Nazarian became the first in his family to graduate from college, earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and his MBA from the University of Southern California.

A visionary and prolific investor in numerous fields, including the early telecommunications and renewable energy industries, aerospace, real estate and hospitality, Nazarian currently serves as chief executive officer and founder of Nimes Capital.

2023 Honorary Degree Recipients

Rudy Ortega

Rudy Ortega Jr.
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 21, 2023

Charles Yu

Charles Yu
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 21, 2023

Milt Valera

Milt Valera
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 22, 2023

2022 Honorary Degree Recipients

Irene F. Tovar

Irene F. Tovar 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 23, 2022

Paul Jennings

Paul S. Jennings 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 22, 2022

2019 Honorary Degree Recipient

Susan Burton

Susan Burton 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 20, 2019

2018 Honorary Degree Recipients

Younes Nazarian

Younes Nazarian 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters degree 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 19, 2018

Judy Baca

Judy Baca 
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts degree 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 18, 2018

2017 Honorary Degree Recipients

William C. Griffeth

William C. Griffeth 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 19, 2017

Michael Watanabe

Michael Watanabe 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 21, 2017

2016 Honorary Degree Recipients

Harvey Bookstein

Harvey Bookstein 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 22, 2016

Doctor of Humane Letters

Rev. James Lawson 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 23, 2016

2015 Honorary Degree Recipients

Photo of Robert Townsend

Robert Townsend 
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 17, 2015

Photo of Zev Yaroslavsky

Zev Yaroslavsky 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 17, 2015

Past Honorary Degree Recipients

Photo of William "Bill" Allen.

William C. "Bill" Allen
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Date Awarded: May 22, 2014

Photo of Asad M. Madni

Asad M. Madni 
Degree: Doctor of Science 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 22, 2013

Photo of Vincent P. Barabba.

Vincent P. Barabba 
Degree: Doctor of Law 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: May 24, 2012

Photo of James Berk.

James Berk 
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts 
Date Awarded: May 24, 2011

Photo of Michelle DeYoung.

Michelle DeYoung 
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts 
Date Awarded: May 18, 2010

Photo of Mike Curb.

Mike Curb 
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts 
Date Awarded: May 18, 2009

Photo of David Fleming.

David Fleming 
Degree: Doctor of Law 
Date Awarded: May 20, 2009

Photo of Charles H. Noski.

Charles H. Noski 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: June 1, 2007

Photo of Michael D. Eisner.

Michael D. Eisner 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
CSUN news release 
Date Awarded: June 3, 2005

Photo of Philip S. Magaram.

Philip S. Magaram 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
Date Awarded: May 28, 2003

Photo of Albert J. McNeil.

Albert J. McNeil 
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts 
Date Awarded: May 28, 2003

Photo of Alan Armer.

Alan Armer 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
Date Awarded: May 31, 2002

Photo of Dolores C. Huerta.

Dolores C. Huerta 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
Date Awarded: May 29, 2002

Photo of Peter Hemmings.

Peter Hemmings  
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts 
Date Awarded: June 1, 2000

Photo of James David Power III.

James David Power III 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
Date Awarded: June 3, 1999

Photo of August Wilson.

August Wilson 
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts 
Date Awarded: June 2, 1999

Photo of Harold M. Williams.

Harold M. Williams
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
Date Awarded: May 28, 1998

Photo of Abraham Polonsky.

Abraham Polonsky 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
Date Awarded: May 27, 1998

Photo of Carol Vaness.

Carol Vaness 
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts 
Date Awarded: April 4, 1998

Photo of Ann Lieberman.

Ann Lieberman 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters  
Date Awarded: May 30, 1997

Photo of Scott Horowitz.

Scott Horowitz 
Degree: Doctor of Science 
Date Awarded: May 29, 1997

Photo of Andres Segovia.

Andres Segovia 
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters 
Date Awarded: February 18, 1983

Photo of Margaret Chase Smith.

Margaret Chase Smith 
Degree: Doctor of Laws 
Date Awarded: May 31, 1974

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