Honorary Degrees

Williams has conferred honorary degrees since 1795. All members of the college community are encouraged to make nominations, from which each year the Honorary Degrees Advisory Committee recommends to the full Board of Trustees a group of potential recipients who have excelled in diverse fields and stand as inspiring examples for our graduating students. Each year one recipient delivers the Commencement address, and one delivers the Baccalaureate address.

We invite your nominations for honorary degree recipients.

First name Last name Degree Year
Preserved Smith MA 1797
Oliver Ayer MA 1796
Samuel Whitman MA 1796
Noah Linsly MA 1795
Daniel Marsh MA 1795
Erastus Sargeant MA 1795
Nathaniel Steele MA 1795
Zephaniah Swift MA 1795
John Warriner Thompson MA 1795
Ephraim Williams MA 1795