Dr. Lomax Receives Honorary Degree from Alma Mater Columbia University
Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF, received an honorary degree from his alma mater Columbia University on May 20 “for his life spent fighting for equity in access to educational opportunities,” according to a university statement. Watch the livestream.
Photo from Columbia University Commencement webcast.
Honorary degrees are awarded to distinguished individuals from a range of fields whose scholarly, artistic or societal contributions reflect the university’s ideals. This is the highest honor Columbia University can bestow on an individual.
Dr. Lomax earned a master’s degree in English literature from Columbia University in 1972.
The university’s 2026 honorary degree recipients also include: Jon Batiste, for his musical creations that defy categorization and express the joy and the pain of being alive; Amanda Peet, for her dedication to telling stories that explore the mysteries and complexities of the human condition; George Stephanopoulos, for his career devoted to public service and democratic education; and Harriet Zuckerman, for her innovative, path-breaking research that has helped define the field of the sociology of science. The University Medal for Excellence will be awarded to Michael Novak, for his achievements as a dancer and his successes as the Artistic Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.