Columbia Announces 2026 Honorary Degree Recipients
Jon Batiste, Michael L. Lomax, Michael Novak, Amanda Peet, George Stephanopoulos, and Harriet Zuckerman will be honored.
On May 20, 2026, Columbia University will confer its honorary degrees and the University Medal for Excellence during its University Commencement proceedings. The honorands will receive their awards on the steps of Low Library on Columbia’s Morningside campus in New York City, in front of graduates, their friends, and families.
This year, there will be two celebrations held: one for graduate degree candidates and one for undergraduate degree candidates.
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 the University can bestow on an individual, and Columbia’s Trustees endeavor to ensure recognition for achievements across all of the various areas of study and fields of academia. The University Medal for Excellence is awarded at Commencement to an alumnus or alumna under 45 years of age whose record in scholarship, public service, and/or professional life is outstanding.
This year's honorary degree recipients include: Jon Batiste, for his musical creations that defy categorization and express the joy and the pain of being alive; Michael Lomax, for his life spent fighting for equity in access to educational opportunities; 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.
During this celebration of Columbia’s 272nd academic year, each recipient will be presented with an honorary degree by Acting President Claire Shipman.
Archived video of the ceremonies and a digital program will be available shortly after the live webcast.
Read more about this year’s recipients:
Jon Batiste, Doctor of Music
Jon Batiste is an eight-time Grammy, Academy, and Emmy Award-winning singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist, renowned for his genre-defying approach to music and his commitment to inclusivity and cultural exploration. Batiste’s latest studio album, BIG MONEY, is a project rooted in American traditions spanning gospel, soul, blues, folk, and rock & roll. Featuring collaborations with No I.D., Randy Newman, and Andra Day, the album earned three nominations at the 2026 Grammy Awards and won Best Americana Album. Read more.
Michael L. Lomax, Doctor of Laws
Dr. Michael Lucius Lomax (GSAS’72) has served as president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) for more than two decades. UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization and the largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to underrepresented students. Under Dr. Lomax’s leadership, UNCF has raised more than $4 billion and helped more than 300,000 students earn college degrees and launch careers. Read more.
Michael Novak, University Medal For Excellence
Michael Novak (GS’09), Artistic Director of Paul Taylor Dance Company, is carving a profound mark in the dance industry with an unwavering commitment to usher in a new era of expansion for the Taylor organization, driven by his passion for artistic innovation, preservation, and education. Before assuming his role as Artistic Director, Novak built an impressive career as a critically acclaimed Taylor dancer for eight years. In 2018, Paul Taylor appointed Novak as his successor. Read more.
Amanda Peet, Doctor of Humane Letters
Amanda Peet (CC’94) is a prolific and award-winning writer, actress, and producer. Her breakout role was in The Whole Nine Yards opposite Bruce Willis. Her other film credits include Igby Goes Down, Something's Gotta Give with Diane Keaton, Syrianna, Please Give, as well as the TV shows Studio 60, Togetherness, and Your Friends and Neighbors. For her last movie, Fantasy Life, she was awarded the Special Jury Prize for acting at the 2025 South By Southwest Film Festival. Read more.
George Stephanopoulos, Doctor of Laws
George Stephanopoulos (CC’82) is a veteran journalist and award-winning political reporter with nearly three decades of experience in the media industry. As co-anchor for America’s most-watched morning newscast, Good Morning America, alongside Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan, and host of ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, his powerful and poignant reporting has defined some of the most consequential moments in broadcast journalism. Read more.
Harriet Zuckerman, Doctor of Letters
Harriet Zuckerman (GSAS’65) is Professor Emerita at Columbia University and the former Senior Vice President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. She earned an A.B. from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University, spending the following 27 years on the Columbia faculty, and then 21 years as the Mellon Foundation’s Senior Vice President. She was the first woman her department hired as a regular faculty member and the first woman to get tenure. Read more.
Why does Columbia confer honorary degrees, and who are some of the past recipients?
Learn more about this beloved University tradition.
Each year at University Commencement, Columbia recognizes individuals and faculty members whose achievements and service embody the University’s highest values. You can learn about more 2026 honors that will be awarded here: