UN Secretary-General, New-York Historical Society President, and MMC’s own Campus Minister to receive 2016 Honorary Degrees

Marymount Manhattan College proudly salutes His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Dr. Louise Mirrer, and Rabbi Philip Hiat. Their honorary degrees will be conferred along with the Class of 2016 in May.

Ban Ki-moon 

Ban Ki-moon is the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations. His priorities have been to mobilize world leaders around a set of new global challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and increasing pressures involving food, energy, and water. He has sought to be a bridge-builder, to give voice to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, and to strengthen the organization itself. Mr. Ban took office on January 1, 2007. On June 21, 2011, he was unanimously re-elected by the General Assembly and will continue to serve until December 31, 2016. Highlights of his tenure include efforts to promote sustainable development, empower women, support countries facing crisis or instability, generate new momentum on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, and strengthen the United Nations. His Excellency Ban Ki-moon will be receiving his degree at the MMC Alumni Association Induction ceremony on May 19, 2016.

Louise Mirrer

Louise Mirrer, Ph.D., is president and CEO of the New-York Historical Society. Under Dr. Mirrer’s direction, the New-York Historical Society has launched a series of exhibitions and a rich array of intellectually engaging lectures, debates and family programs. Dr. Mirrer inaugurated the Saturday Academy, an American history enhancement program for high-school students, and a new Graduate Institute on Constitutional History. Dr. Mirrer also led the Historical Society’s 100-million-dollar campaign for a major renovation of its landmark building on Central Park West, creating new permanent installation galleries and a children’s history museum. Dr. Mirrer is currently overseeing efforts to create a Center for Women’s History, scheduled to open in 2016. Previously, she was the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the City University of New York. Dr. Mirrer will be receiving her degree at MMC Commencement on May 26, 2016.

Philip Hiat

Rabbi Philip Hiat is Marymount Manhattan College’s Campus Minister.  Rabbi Hiat began his distinguished career at Marymount as a teacher and scholar in the Philosophy and Religious Studies department. During his years of teaching here, he served as a visiting professor at Warsaw University in Poland and at the Institute of Oriental Studies in Moscow, Russia. In 2009, Rabbi Hiat was awarded the Marymount Manhattan College Presidential Award. Rabbi Hiat served in the 147th Regimental Combat Team, South Pacific Theater of Operation with the U.S. Army. After college, he became an ordained Rabbi by the Jewish Institute of Religion. Rabbi Hiat also earned a M.H.L. (Aramaic) and Doctor of Divinity H.C. from Hebrew Union College’s Jewish Institute of Religion. Rabbi Hiat is associated with the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the National Yiddish Theatre, and the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Rabbi Hiat will be receiving his degree at MMC Commencement on May 26, 2016.


For their outstanding contributions to society, the Board of Trustees, the president, and the faculty of Marymount Manhattan College are proud to confer on His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Rabbi Philip Hiat, and Dr. Louise Mirrer the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

Learn more about MMC’s 2016 Commencement here.

Published: April 21, 2016