Before 1964, The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee had no separate Honorary Degrees Committee but had representation on the All-University Committee. This committee selected Mayor Frank P. Zeidler to receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in June 1958 and agreed that the honor be bestowed at the UWM Commencement rather than the one in Madison.
On April 9, 1964, the UWM faculty voted to establish a “Committee on Honorary Degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee”. (Fac. Doc. 265).
| Year | Name & Title | Honorary Degree |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ralph J. Bunche Undersecretary of the United Nations | |
| 1967 | Donald E. Hornig Special Assistant to President Johnson for Science and Technology | Doctor of Science |
| 1968 | Jean I. Gottman Professor of Geography Sorbonne | Doctor of Laws |
| Hans Kurath Professor Emeritus of English University of Michigan | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| A. Philip Randolph Vice President, AFL/CIO, and President Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters | Doctor of Laws | |
| 1969 | R. Buckminster Fuller Professor Southern Illinois University | Doctor of Architectural Engineering |
| Lusica Chase Co-Director American Ballet Theatre | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Merle E. Curti Professor Emeritus of History University of Wisconsin | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| George Polya Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Stanford University | Doctor of Science | |
| Allen M. Slichter Chairman of the Board Pelton Steel Casting Co. | Doctor of Laws | |
| E. C. G. Sudarshan Professor of Physics Syracuse University | Doctor of Science | |
| Sol Tax Professor of Anthropology University of Chicago | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 1970 | John Leighly Professor Emeritus of Geography UC-Berkeley | Doctor of Science |
| Elmer L. Winter President Manpower, Incorporated | Doctor of Laws | |
| 1971 | Angie Elizabeth Brooks Delegate, former President UW Assembly | Doctor of Laws |
| Joseph F. Heil Chairman of the Board Heil Company | Doctor of Laws | |
| Konrad Bates Krauskopf Professor of Geochemistry Stanford | Doctor of Science | |
| William Gorham Rice, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Law University of Wisconsin | Doctor of Laws | |
| 1972 | Delwin C. Jacobus President Jacobus Company | Doctor of Laws |
| Hans Mayer Professor, German Literature Technische Universitat, Hannover Carol Schurz Memorial Professor University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Robert von Neumann Professor Emeritus of Art and Art Education University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| 1973 | Germaine Brée Professor of French Literature University of Wisconsin | Doctor of Literature |
| Paul H. Emmett Professor Emeritus Surface Science and Catalysis Johns Hopkins | Doctor of Science | |
| Evan P. Helfaer President Lakeside Laboratories | Doctor of Law | |
| Virginia Satir Founder Mental Health Research Institute, Palo Alto, California | Doctor of Social Science | |
| 1974 | I. W. Abel Union Leader, Former President United Steelworkers | Doctor of Laws |
| Earl S. Johnson Professor Emeritus, Social Science University of Chicago | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 1975 | Eric Bentley Critic and Playwright | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| Margaret Pollitzer Hoben Civic Leader | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Robert Louis Manegold Industrialist | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| Emil Francis Mosonyi Professor of Water Resource Engineering Karlsruhe | Doctor of Science | |
| 1976 | W. Eugene Smith Photographer, Author, Journalist, and Teacher | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 1977 | Marya Zaturenska Gregory Poet, Biographer and Critic | Doctor of Literature |
| Horace Gregory Poet, Critic, Translator and Literary Historian | Doctor of Literature | |
| N. Scott Momaday Novelist, Poet, Teacher and Scholar | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 1978 | Robert Thaddeus Foote Chairman of the Board Universal Foods Corporation | Doctor of Commercial Science |
| Elizabeth F. McCoy Professor Emeritus of Bacteriology University of Wisconsin | Doctor of Science | |
| Arthur Miller Playwright, Novelist and Essayist | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| Robert M. White Chairman, Climate Research Board National Academy of Science | Doctor of Science | |
| 1979 | Vladimir Haensel Vice President Universal Oil Products, Inc. | Doctor of Science |
| Barbara Nichols President American Nurses’ Association | Doctor of Science | |
| Richard Henry Nolte Executive Director Institute for Current World Affairs, American Geographical Society Former Ambassador to United Arab Republic | Doctor of Science | |
| 1980 | Edmund N. Bacon Urban Designer and Planner | Doctor of Architecture |
| Alfred Robert Bader President Sigma-Aldrich Corporation | Doctor of Science | |
| James G. March Educator and Organizations Theorist | Doctor of Laws | |
| David S. Shapiro Rabbi, Congregation Anshe Sfard Biblical and Judaic Scholar | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 1981 | Avraham Many Physicist Hebrew University of Jerusalem | Doctor of Science |
| Kenneth Milton Stampp Professor of History UC-Berkeley | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 1982 | Fred Harvey Harrington Former President University of Wisconsin | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Max Henry Karl Chairman of the Board MGIC Investment Corporation | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| 1983 | Catherine B. Cleary Banker | Doctor of Commercial Science |
| Henry S. Reuss Former Member of Congress | Doctor of Laws | |
| Wesley L. Scott Executive Director Milwaukee Urban League | Doctor of Public Service | |
| Alice Helen Streng Professor Emerita of Education University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 1984 | J. Martin Klotsche Chancellor Emeritus University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Humanities |
| Otto Luening Composer | Doctor of Music | |
| I. Andrew Rader Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Office Allen-Bradley | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| 1985 | Carl W. Moebius Director Moebius Printing Company | Doctor of Humanities |
| Clifford H. Mortimer Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Science | |
| Theodore Shabad Geographer and Journalist | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 1986 | Wilbur Cohen Professor of Public Affairs University of Texas | Doctor of Humanities |
| Brenton H. Rupple Chairman of the Board Robert W. Baird & Company | Doctor of Public Service | |
| Herman Weil Professor Emeritus of Psychology University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Public Service | |
| Nathaniel K. Zelazo President and Chairman of the Board Astronautics, Inc. | Doctor of Engineering | |
| 1987 | Helmut Beinert Professor of Biochemistry Medical College of Wisconsin | Doctor of Science |
| Sol Burstein Vice Chairman Wisconsin Electric Power Company | Doctor of Science | |
| Richard D. Harza Chairman of the Board Harza Engineering Company | Doctor of Science | |
| W. Thomas Edmondson Professor Emeritus University of Washington | Doctor of Science | |
| Lukas Foss Conductor Laureate Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra | Doctor of Music | |
| E. J. Josey Professor of Library and Information Science University of Pittsburgh | Doctor of Public Service | |
| 1988 May | Edith Finlayson Former UW System Regent and Civic Leader | Doctor of Public Service |
| Sheldon B. Lubar President, Mortgage Associates President and Founder, Lubar and Company | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| December | Marian Wright Edelman President and Founder Children’s Defense Fund | Doctor of Humanities |
| 1989 May | Roger L. Fitzsimonds President and Chief Operating Officer First Wisconsin Corporation | Doctor of Commercial Science |
| Sidney Greenbaum Quain Professor of English at University College in University of London Former Faculty Member at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Lillian Leenhouts Architect Co-Founder of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning | Doctor of Humanities | |
| 1990 May | George F. Kennan Former Ambassador to the Soviet Union Political Scholar | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Frank J. (Jack) Pelisek Milwaukee Attorney Community Leader Advocate for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| December | Frank P. Zeidler Former Mayor of Milwaukee Community Leader | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 1991 May | Chauncy D. Harris Professor Emeritus University of Chicago Geographer | Doctor of Science |
| Filiberto Murguia Executive Director Council for the Spanish Speaking Alumnus, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Public Service | |
| December | Cyril O. Houle Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago Eminent Scholar Adult and Continuing Education Sr. Program Consultant, W.K. Kellogg Foundation | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 1992 May | Warren P. Knowles Former Governor of the State of Wisconsin President, The Newton Fund | Doctor of Public Service |
| December | Lucius J. Barker William Bennett Munro Professor of Political Science, Stanford University Leading Scholar, US Constitutional Law and Racial Politics | Doctor of Laws |
| 1993 | Reverend Leon Howard Sullivan Pastor Emeritus of Zion Baptist Church, Philadelphia PA Highly influential African-American pastor and businessman Founder, The Opportunities Industrialization Centers | Doctor of Social Welfare |
| 1994 May | Lois Ehlert Author, Illustrator and Designer | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Nancy Oestreich Lurie Curator Emerita, Milwaukee Public Museum Anthropologist | Doctor of Humanities | |
| 1995 May | Dr. Phil Skolnick Neuroscientist Chief, Laboratory of Neuroscience, National Institutes of Health | Doctor of Science |
| 1996 May | Dr. Alfred M. Beeton Director, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration | Doctor of Science |
| Dennis J. Kuester President Marshall & Ilsley Corporation | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| 1997 May | Dr. Norman A. Graebner Diplomatic Historian Milwaukee State Teachers College Alumnus Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| December | George Sopkin Cellist Founder, New England Quartette Co-founder, Fine Arts Quartet based at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| 1998 May | Ashley Bryan Award Winning Author and Illustrator of Children’s Literature, Artist, Folklorist and Poet | Doctor of Humanities |
| Jean B. Tyler Former Executive Director Milwaukee Public Policy Forum | Doctor of Public Policy | |
| 1999 May | James Cameron Civil Rights Advocate Founder and Director, America’s Black Holocaust Museum | Doctor of Humanities |
| 2000 May | Dr. Arnold E. Aronson Sr. Consultant Emeritus, Division of Medical Speech Pathology, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Professor Emeritus, Speech Pathology, Mayo Medical School | Doctor of Science |
| Vel R. Phillips Attorney at Law Former Wisconsin Secretary of State Milwaukee Common Council Member First African-American Female: Graduate of UW Law School Member of National Democratic Committee, and State of Wisconsin Judge | Doctor of Laws | |
| December | Dr. Robert Ballard Marine Geologist Creator of the Jason Project and Discoverer of Titanic wreck | Doctor of Science and Humane Letters |
| 2001 May | Lloyd A. Barbee Attorney-at-Law and Former Wisconsin State Representative | Doctor of Public Policy |
| Herbert Grabes Professor of English and American Literature Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Bernard J. Peck Retired Chief Operating Officer Peck Foods | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| 2002 May | Wallace McClain Cheatham Music Specialist Elm Creative Arts School | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| 2003 May | Michael Cudahy Co-Founder Marquette Electronics | Doctor of Science |
| Iwao Iwamoto Professor of American Literature, Reitaku University, Chiba Japan Professor Emeritus, Univeristy of Tsukuba | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Ragunath A. Mashelkar Director General, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research Secretary of Scientific & Industrial Research New Dehli, India | Doctor of Science | |
| 2004 May | Richard Grigg Executive Consultant, Fuel Tech Retired President/CEO, We Generation | Doctor of Commercial Science |
| Al Jarreau Musician and Literacy Champion Five Time Grammy Award Winner | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| Frances Brock Starms Educator, Author and Civic Leader | Doctor of Public Service | |
| 2005 May | Reuben K. Harpole Educator & Civic Leader University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Edward J. Zore President & Chief Executive Officer Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee, WI | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| 2006 May | Daniel J. Bader Philanthropist & Civic Leader Helen Bader Foundation, Milwaukee, WI | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Patricia Wells Author, Journalist & Educator of Culinary Arts International Herald Tribune, Paris, France | Doctor of Culinary Journalism | |
| Harvey D. Wilmeth Business & Economics Leader Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee, WI | Doctor of Economics and Business | |
| December | Dr. Eugenie C. Scott Executive Director National Center for Science Education | Doctor of Science |
| 2007 May | Daisaku Ikeda President Soka Gakkai International | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| William D. Petasnick President and CEO Froedtert Hospital & Health System and Froedtert & Community Health System, Milwaukee, WI | Doctor of Health Sciences | |
| Hans G. Storr Executive Vice President and CFO, Philip Morris Co., Inc. Chairman and CEO; Philip Morris Capital Corporation | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| 2008 May | Leo Kottke Musician | Doctor of Music Performance |
| James L. Ziemer CEO Harley-Davidson Corporation, Milwaukee, WI | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| 2009 May | Branko Terzic US Regulatory Policy Leader | Doctor of Science |
| 2010 May | Bruce T. Block Attorney Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C. | Doctor of Architecture |
| 2011 May | George Blumenthal Chancellor University of California-Santa Cruz | Doctor of Astrophysics and Leadership in Higher Education |
| Gale E. Klappa Chairman, President and CEO Wisconsin Energy Corporation | Doctor of Commercial Science | |
| 2012 May | Will Allen Founder and CEO Growing Power, Inc. | Doctor of Agriculture |
| Jacquelyn Fredrick President and CEO BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Inc. | Doctor of Business and Public Health | |
| Stephen H. Marcus Chairman The Marcus Corporation | Doctor of Business and Urban Development | |
| 2013 May | John Gurda Author, Historian and Broadcaster | Doctor of Milwaukee History and Geography |
| Marianne Lubar Arts Visionary, Philanthropist and Leader | Doctor of Leadership in the Arts | |
| Allan H. (Bud) Selig Commissioner Major League Baseball | Doctor of Business | |
| Ashwani Kumar Gupta Distinguished University Professor of Mechanical Engineering University of Maryland | Doctor of Energy and Engineering Science (Awarded May 2014) | |
| 2014 May | John W. Daniels Jr. Attorney, Entrepreneur and Community Leader | Doctor of Business |
| Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham Professor, History and African American Studies Harvard University | Doctor of History | |
| Herb Kohl Former Wisconsin U.S. Senator, Businessman and Public Servant | Doctor of Public Service and Education | |
| 2015 May | Irene Bishop Goggans Ethnographer and Community Historian of African American Life | Doctor of Community History |
| Catherine A. Jacobson President and CEO Froedtert Health | Doctor of Health Care Leadership | |
| 2016 January | Christiane Taubira Keeper of the Seals Minister of Justice of the French Republic | Doctor of Laws and Human Rights |
| May | Doran “Danni” Gendelman Founder InterPlan Office Products, Inc. | Doctor of Great Lakes Education |
| Scott B. Noegel Professor, Musician, Artist and Filmmaker University of Seattle | Doctor of Letters | |
| 2016 December | Chris G. Kegel President, CEO, and Sole Owner Wheel and Sprocket | Doctor of Business |
| 2018 May | Daniel Egan Great Lakes Reporter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Author | Doctor of Environmental Journalism |
| Kenneth A. Germanson Journalist and Labor History Educator | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 2019 May | Marion E. Broome Nurse Educator, Researcher and Administrator | Doctor of Science in Nursing Leadership |
| Mary Kellner Educator, Counselor, Mental Health Advocate and Philanthropist | Doctor of Educational Psychology | |
| 2020 | Virtual Commencement Ceremonies in May & December 2020 due to Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-10). According to Honorary Degree guidelines, Honorary degrees are not awarded in absentia. (SAAP 1-12) | |
| 2021 May | Robert W. Henderson Curator of Herpetology Emeritus Milwaukee Public Museum | Doctor of Herpetology |
| David J. Lubar President & CEO Lubar & Company | Doctor of Business | |
| David D. McGaffey Partner (Retired) Foley & Lardner, LLP | Doctor of Laws | |
| December | Tonit Calaway Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary of BorgWarner, Inc. | Doctor of Corporate and Community Relations |
| Steven A. Davis Former Chairman & CEO Bob Evans Farms, Inc. | Doctor of Business | |
| Michael J. Falbo Regent Emeritus Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System | Doctor of Entrepreneurship | |
| Belinda Pittman Founder and Executive Director Nia Imani Family Inc. | Doctor of Community Health | |
| 2022 May | Willem Dafoe Actor | Doctor of Arts |
| Judy Murphy Chief Nursing Officer IBM’s Global Healthcare and Lifesciences Division | Doctor of Nursing | |
| Kevin Shafer Executive Director Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District | Doctorate in Freshwater Sciences and Water Resource Leadership | |
| Noble Wray Retired Chief of Police, Madison Expert Consultant on Issues Facing Law Enforcement | Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare | |
| 2023 May | Mary V. Alfred Professor, Adult Ed. & HR Development Executive Director, Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning Texas A&M University | Doctor of Adult and Continuing Education |
| Peter Feigin President Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum | Doctor of Business | |
| December | Jack Zipes Professor Emeritus of German University of Minnesota | Doctor of Humanities |
| 2024 May | Jeffery Yabuki Chairman of Motive Partners and former CEO of Fiserv, Inc. | Doctor of Business |
| December | Denis Kitchen American Cartoonist | Doctor of Plan H: Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies |
| 2025 May | JoAnne Anton President and CEO Herb Kohl Philanthropies | Doctor of Social Welfare |