Recipients

Honorary Degree Recipients

Honorary Degree Nominations

NNU periodically awards honorary degrees to those determined to fit the University’s criteria for such degrees. Those criteria are:

    1. Personal Character and Integrity.
      We desire to honor recipients who represent Northwest Nazarene University’s mission and values. With a heart, soul and mind given to transformation, truth, community and service, candidates will have sought to live as God’s creative and redemptive agents in the world. We seek to honor individuals who have lived in such a way that their peers, associates and those whom they have served would celebrate with us.
    2. Professional Achievement and Service.
      We desire to honor recipients who have demonstrated outstanding stewardship of their giftedness and have made a substantial contribution that advances their field of study, profession, church or community. Honorees should be distinguished by their genuine and distinctive achievement.
    3. University Association.
      We desire to honor recipients who have a connection to Northwest Nazarene University. In the granting of an honorary degree, we understand that the individual becomes identified with the University and its broader community. With this in mind, we desire to give attention to the ways that this honor will not only reflect upon the recipient but also over time continue to reflect upon the University.
Honorary degree given at commencement

HONORARY DEGREES GRANTED BY
NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

2024 Gordon Presnell Alumni, Coach Doctor of Humane Letters
2023 Mary Curran Faculty, Ordained elder Doctor of Humane Letters
2022 William Roscoe Entrepreneur, Pastor, Director of the Boise Rescue Mission Doctor of Humane Letters
2021 David Rodes Pastor, Trustee, Mission Doctor of Divinity
2019 Hugh Friberg Pastor, Missionary Doctor of Divinity
2017 Jerry Caven Layman, Businessman Doctor of Humane Letters
2017 John Boyd President, Mission Aviation Fellowship Doctor of Humane Letters
2015 Cynthia Tobias Doctor of Humane Letters
2015 Stephen Borger Pastor, District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
2014 Bill Jackson Layman, Businessman Doctor of Science
2014 Anna Marie Jackson Layman Doctor of Humane Letters
2014 James Jackson Layman, Businessman Doctor of Humane Letters
2014 Gene Schandorff University Chaplain Doctor of Divinity
2014 Ki-Dong Han Pastor, Dist. Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
2012 Steve Walden Layman, Businessman Doctor of Humane Letters
2011 Bob Helstrom Layman, Businessman Doctor of Humane Letters
2010 Sergio Alberto Gutierrez Layman, Judge, Idaho Court of Appeals Doctor of Laws
2010 Mark E. “Monty” Ortman Layman, Businessman Doctor of Laws
2009 Randy Craker District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
2009 Verne Ward III Regional Director, Asia-Pacific Doctor of Divinity
2007 Ralph Palmen Businessman Doctor of Laws
2007 Pablo Salazar Government Leader – Mexico Doctor of Laws
2006 Kent Hill Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development Doctor of Laws
2006 Tom Stone School Administrator Doctor of Fine Arts
2005 Jerry D. Hull Professor Doctor of Humane Letters
2005 B. Edgar Johnson Layman Doctor of Laws
2005 Jennifer Pavlisko student – posthumously
2005 Sang Don Park Congressman/Seoul, Korea Doctor of Laws
2004 A.B. Ellis Businessman Doctor of Laws
2004 Rev. Paulo Sueia District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
2004 Senator Larry Craig U.S. Senator Doctor of Laws
2003 Harold Thomas Businessman/CEO Doctor of Laws
2002 Edwin Crawford Professor of Philosophy Doctor of Humane Letters
2001 Monte Chitwood Financial Consultant/CPA Doctor of Laws
2001 Leah Peterson Teacher Doctor of Humane Letters
2000 David Sutherland Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery Childerns Hospital San Diego, CA Doctor of Science
2000 Richard Etulain Professor of History Doctor of Humane Letters
1999 Trude L. Conrad Administrative Assistant Colorado District Missionary President Doctor of Humane Letters
1999 Ronald K. Kratzer District Superintendent Intermountain District Doctor of Divinity
1998 Steven Fletcher District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
Marian B. Washburn Professor, English Doctor of Humane Letters
1997 A. Elwood Sanner Professor, Religion Doctor of Divinity
1996 Willard Freisen Layman, Businessman Doctor of Fine Arts
1996 Senator Dirk Kempthorne U.S. Senator Doctor of Laws
1996 Brennan Manning Clergyman, Author Doctor of Humane Letters
1995 Harmon Schmelzenbach Retired Missionary Doctor of Divinity
Winston Goering Mayor, Nampa Doctor of Laws
1994 Hugh Smith District Supt., Regent Doctor of Divinity
1993 Leon Wyss District Supt., Regent Doctor of Divinity
Thomas Nees Dir. of Comp. Minis. Doctor of Divinity
1992 Gerald Manker District Supt., Regent Doctor of Divinity
Rick Hieb Layman, Astronaut Doctor of Science
1991 Henry A. Ernst Layman Doctor of Humane
Joseph Mayfield Faculty member, NNC Doctor of Divinity
1990 James Diehl Pastor, Regent Doctor of Divinity
Gilbert Ford Faculty member, NNC Doctor of Laws
1988 Ernest Boyer (in absentia) Pres. Carnegie Found. for Advan. of Teaching Doctor of Laws
Walter Lanman District Supt., Regent Doctor of Divinity
1986 Willis Brown Layman Doctor of Laws
Leo Qualls Layman, Regent Doctor of Laws
Robert W. Sheppard District Supt., Regent Doctor of Divinity
1985 J. Robert Mangum Layman Doctor of Laws
Hoyle Thomas District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1980 Leon D. Doane Layman, Regent, Alumni President Doctor of Laws
1978 Carl Clendenen, Jr. District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1974 Jerald D. Johnson Hq. Executive Doctor of Divinity
1972 Esperidion Julca Minister, Peru Doctor of Divinity
C. Griffith Bratt Professor, BSC Doctor of Music
Frank Church U. S. Senator Doctor of Laws
Raymond C. Kratzer District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1970 Annie Laurie Bird Retired school teacher Doctor of Letters
1964 Earl E. Mosteller Missionary Doctor of Laws
Gordon T. Olsen Layman, Regent Doctor of Laws
J. Fred Parker Hq. Executive Doctor of Letters
G. Herbert Smith Pres., Willamette U. Doctor of Laws
John E. Wordsworth Layman, Regent Doctor of Laws
1963 Louise R. Chapman Retired missionary Doctor of Divinity
Roy Stevens District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1962 L. Wesley Johnson Business Manager, NNC Doctor of Laws
Thornton S. Wiley Layman, Regent Doctor of Laws
1961 M. Estes Haney Faculty member, PC Doctor of Divinity
1959 Mark O. Hatfield Governor of Oregon Doctor of Laws
1957 Francis Sutherland Faculty member, NNC Doctor of Laws
1956 W. D. McGraw, Jr. District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1955 Arnold E. Airhart President, CNC Doctor of Divinity
1952 Roy E. Swim Doctor of Divinity
E. E. Zachary District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1951 Fletcher Galloway Pastor (?) Doctor of Divinity
1949 Edward S. Mann President, ENC Doctor of Laws
1948 L. J. DuBois Hq. Executive Doctor of Divinity
1947 B. V. Seals District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1946 Albert F. Harper Faculty member, ENC Doctor of Divinity
1945 Roy H. Cantrell District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
D. I. Vanderpool District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1942 Hardy C. Powers General Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
E. E. Martin District Superintendent Doctor of Divinity
1941 A. B. Mackey President, TNC Doctor of Laws
Howard V. Miller Faculty Member, NNC Doctor of Divinity
1940 Hugh C. Benner Pastor Doctor of Divinity
1938 E. E. Angell Faculty member, NNC Doctor of Divinity
1937 Russel V. DeLong President, NNC Doctor of Divinity