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Home » Honorary Degree
Chancellor Donde Plowman and College of Law Dean Lonnie T. Brown, Jr. pose with Rita Geier during commencement.

Rita Geier Urges Law Graduates to Prioritize Service

May 16, 2025

Rita Sanders Geier, a longtime justice advocate and former lawyer and professor, encouraged recent law graduates to put their knowledge and skills to use for others. She was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws, recognizing her lifetime of public service. 

Featured From the Chancellor Messages

Donde Plowman, Chancellor of the University of Tennessee, helps hood Senator Lamar Alexander, with Ellen McIntyre, Dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, as Randy Boyd, UT System President, stands by to assist during the Fall Undergraduate Commencement ceremony inside Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.

Lamar Alexander Reminds Graduates to Find the Good 

December 16, 2024

In his remarks, Alexander reminded us all that while public service has its challenges, it is a fulfilling and impactful way to make a difference in our communities and our country. He encouraged students across disciplines to step up as leaders in their communities.  

From the Chancellor Messages

Honorary Degree Recognizes Community Leader’s Lifetime of Service 

February 17, 2024

That’s why it is my privilege to celebrate the leadership and service of Robert J. Booker, a Knoxville native and Tennessee’s first Black state representative, with an honorary doctorate in humanities from the College of Arts and Sciences.  

From the Chancellor Messages

Former Gov. Bill Haslam encourages graduates to make a difference 

December 20, 2022

I knew former governor Bill Haslam would share meaningful wisdom with our graduates when we asked him to speak at our fall commencement ceremony, where he was also awarded an honorary degree.   But when he asked our graduates to consider an important question, it was one that also made me stop and think: Do you want […]

From the Chancellor Messages

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