California State University, Northridge has conferred honorary doctorates to the following individuals in recognition of their exceptional professional achievements and meaningful contributions to society.听
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.
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听.
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听Honorary Degree Recipients 2024
Debra Farar
California State University (CSU) Trustee Emerita Debra Farar听'75, M.A. '87听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鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from 快活林性息 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.
Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor听'82听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 (快活林性息) 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 快活林性息 he earned his MBA and law degree at Stanford University, then launched his career at McKinsey & Company, one of the world鈥檚 most-recognized management consulting firms.
Andrew Anagnost
Dr.听Andrew Anagnost,听'87,听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.听Anagnost earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Northridge (快活林性息) and both his master鈥檚 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.听Dr.听Anagnost was named as Autodesk鈥檚 president and CEO in 2017 and serves as a member of the Autodesk Board of Directors.
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鈥檚 degree in business administration from California State University, Northridge (快活林性息) 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 Jr.
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Date Awarded: May 21, 2023
Charles Yu
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Date Awarded: May 21, 2023
Milt Valera
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Date Awarded: May 22, 2023
2022 Honorary Degree Recipients
Irene F. Tovar听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Date Awarded: May 23, 2022
Paul S. Jennings听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Date Awarded: May 22, 2022
2019 Honorary Degree Recipient
Susan Burton听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Date Awarded: May 20, 2019
2018 Honorary Degree Recipients
Younes Nazarian听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters degree听
Date Awarded: May 19, 2018
Judy Baca听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts degree听
Date Awarded: May 18, 2018
2017 Honorary Degree Recipients
William C. Griffeth听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 19, 2017
Michael Watanabe听
Degree:听Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 21, 2017
2016 Honorary Degree Recipients
Harvey Bookstein听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 22, 2016
Rev. James Lawson听
Degree:听Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 23, 2016
2015 Honorary Degree Recipients
Robert Townsend听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts听
Date Awarded: May 17, 2015
Zev Yaroslavsky听
Degree:听Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 17, 2015
Past Honorary Degree Recipients
William C. "Bill" Allen
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Date Awarded: May 22, 2014
Asad M. Madni听
Degree: Doctor of Science听
Date Awarded: May 22, 2013
Vincent P. Barabba听
Degree: Doctor of Law听
Date Awarded: May 24, 2012
James Berk听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts听
Date Awarded: May 24, 2011
Michelle DeYoung听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts听
Date Awarded: May 18, 2010
Mike Curb听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts听
Date Awarded: May 18, 2009
David Fleming听
Degree: Doctor of Law听
Date Awarded: May 20, 2009
Charles H. Noski听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: June 1, 2007
Michael D. Eisner听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: June 3, 2005
Philip S. Magaram听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 28, 2003
Albert J. McNeil听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts听
Date Awarded: May 28, 2003
Alan Armer听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 31, 2002
Dolores C. Huerta听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 29, 2002
Peter Hemmings听听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts听
Date Awarded: June 1, 2000
James David Power III听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: June 3, 1999
August Wilson听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts听
Date Awarded: June 2, 1999
Harold M. Williams
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 28, 1998
Abraham Polonsky听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: May 27, 1998
Carol Vaness听
Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts听
Date Awarded: April 4, 1998
Ann Lieberman听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听听
Date Awarded: May 30, 1997
Scott Horowitz听
Degree: Doctor of Science听
Date Awarded: May 29, 1997
Andres Segovia听
Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters听
Date Awarded: February 18, 1983
Margaret Chase Smith听
Degree: Doctor of Laws听
Date Awarded: May 31, 1974