Honorary Degree Recipients

Viola Davis, Charles M. Royce, and Deborah Goodrich Royce were awarded honorary degrees by the University of Rhode Island during Spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies.

The University awarded the degrees on Saturday, May 18, at 10 a.m. at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus. Davis was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters, and the Royces was awarded an honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters.

Viola Davis

A revered artist, activist, producer, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling author, Viola Davis is one of just 19 individuals to ever achieve EGOT status—a designation given to those who have won each of the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.

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Charles M. “Chuck” Royce

Charles M. “Chuck” Royce is chair and portfolio manager of Royce and Associates, LLP, a firm that he founded in 1972. He has served as a trustee for Brown University, establishing fellowships and professorships to support undergraduate teaching and research.

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Deborah Goodrich Royce

A best-selling and award-winning author, Deborah Goodrich Royce is renowned for her thrillers that examine puzzles of identity. She also hosts Ocean House Author Series, a salon-style conversation that brings world-class authors to Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

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Viola Davis inspires URI Class of 2024 in stirring keynote address

A conversation with Charles M. Royce and Deborah Goodrich Royce