Honorary doctorate awarded to President Emeritus Peter Salovey

 On April 1, 2025, Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka presented an honorary doctorate to President Emeritus Peter Salovey of Yale University.

 At Yale University, Dr. Salovey held several leadership positions, including Chair of the Department of Psychology, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Dean of Yale College, and Provost before becoming the 23rd President of Yale University in 2013. During his tenure, which lasted until June 2024, Yale further cemented its global prominence across a variety of fields. Dr. Salovey oversaw the reorganization of academic units such as the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and bolstered Yale’s traditional strengths in the humanities while strategically enhancing its performance in the natural sciences and data science. He also fostered a cross-disciplinary environment for research and education. In addition, he expanded support programs for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, established innovation ecosystems, including Yale Ventures, and enriched global engagement, particularly with Africa and Asia. Under his leadership, Yale’s fundraising efforts flourished, resulting in a doubling of the university’s endowment.

 Yale is one of Waseda’s most important partner institutions. In 2007, Waseda launched the Asakawa Senior Fellowship Program. The following year, Waseda awarded an honorary doctorate to then-President Richard C. Levin, and the two universities concluded an academic exchange agreement. Since then, the two universities have enjoyed active educational and research exchanges and collaborations. As the President of Yale, Dr. Salovey approved the appointment of the late Yale Professor Frances M. Rosenbluth as an external member of Waseda’s board. Thanks to Professor Rosenbluth’s recommendation, Waseda was selected as a partner institution for Yale’s Fox International Fellowship Program. This program typically selects only one university per country, sponsoring one student per year from each partner institution, covering travel expenses and living costs. However, Japan was an exception, with two partner institutions designated: the University of Tokyo and Waseda University.

 The presentation ceremony took place during the entrance ceremony for the undergraduate and graduate schools of Political Science and Economics, Law, and Education, which was held at Waseda Arena and attended by many new students, faculty staff, and related personnel.　In his speech, Dr. Salovey noted the long history of exchange between Yale and the University, which has continued for more than 100 years, and offered encouragement to new students, saying, “I believe that the educational experience in the classroom, laboratory, and studio is enhanced by the presence of people who – no matter who you are – have had different life experiences than you, who do not share the same learning history and cultural experiences.  I suggest that you seek out opportunities to work with others whose backgrounds are different from your own.”

About Waseda University’s Honorary Doctorate

This degree is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to academia, the arts, society, or humanity, and who Waseda University deems appropriate to honor. It is the highest honorary title at Waseda University, and has been awarded to 150 people from Japan and overseas, including Dr. Peter Salovey.