USU Seeks Nominations for 2027 Honorary Degrees, Commencement Speaker

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University is seeking nominations for the institution’s 2027 honorary degree recipients and commencement speaker. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders are invited to nominate for these recognitions.

Nominees should be individuals who have demonstrated sustained activity of uncommon merit, who have achieved a prominent career nationally or internationally, or who have provided significant service beyond the typical expectations of their profession.

The Honorary Degree Nomination and the Commencement Speaker Nomination are simple online forms. Nominations are due at noon Dec. 9.

The screening committee consists of five members of the USU Board of Trustees, three faculty members, the vice president of University Advancement, and the vice president of University Marketing and Communications.

This committee’s responsibility is to review all nominations and forward them to the board of trustees for final approval. The Board of Trustees Honorary Degrees, Awards, and Recognition Committee is chaired by Trustee Travis Lish and is responsible for presenting nominations for final approval in January.

Honorary degree recipients for the 2026 commencement included Bobby Wagner, USU Athletics Hall of Famer and NFL all-pro defender; Stan and Joyce Albrecht, former president and first lady of USU; and Ara Serjoie, a USU alumnus. A historical list of honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers can be found on the USU Board of Trustees webpage.