Harvard Confers Five Honorary Degrees at 375th Commencement

Recognition of lifetime work across AI, history, theater, political commentary, and comedy highlights Geoffrey Hinton’s public warnings about AI safety.

Overview

Harvard conferred five honorary doctorates on Thursday, May 28, 2026, with President Garber presenting the degrees and Conan O’Brien returning as the Commencement speaker.
The recipients are Geoffrey Hinton (Doctor of Science), Noel Malcolm (Doctor of Laws), Audra McDonald (Doctor of Arts), Peggy Noonan (Doctor of Laws), and Conan O’Brien (Doctor of Arts).
Geoffrey Hinton was honored for foundational work in neural networks and deep learning and is noted for resigning from Google to speak publicly about risks from advanced AI and for urging urgent research into AI safety after winning major awards including a Nobel Prize.
Audra McDonald was recognized as the most-awarded performer in Broadway history with six Tony wins and for her advocacy work on civil rights, LGBTQIA+ issues, and support for organizations that aid homeless youth and trafficking survivors.
Noel Malcolm was cited for influential scholarship on Bosnia and Kosovo and received public praise from Kosovo’s prime minister, while Peggy Noonan was recognized for her long career as a presidential speechwriter and a Wall Street Journal columnist, underscoring Harvard’s nod to civic and cultural influence across disciplines.