Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws at Harvard University’s 355th Commencement Exercises today in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

President Jackson has been awarded five honorary doctoral degrees this commencement season. In addition to Harvard, she was also honored at the University of Pennsylvania, Howard University, The College of William and Mary, and The Ohio State University, where she was the March commencement speaker. President Jackson holds 38 honorary doctoral degrees.

Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute since 1999, holds a Ph.D. in theoretical elementary particle physics from M.I.T. (1973) and a S.B. in physics from M.I.T. (1968). She is a member of the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange and chair of the Board of Directors of NYSE Regulation, former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, former Chairman of the Board and Past President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a regent of the Smithsonian Institution, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu