Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff Members,

I am excited to share with you that, upon the recommendation of the College’s Honorary Degree Committee and with approval by the faculty and the Board of Managers, the College will award honorary degrees to the following individuals at this year’s Commencement ceremony:

Joseph Altuzarra ’05
Joseph Altuzarra ’05 is an award-winning luxury fashion designer globally recognized for his innovative contributions to the industry. The son of a Chinese American mother and a French father, he launched his brand, Altuzarra, in 2008. The brand is informed by his curiosity about the world and his multicultural background and upbringing. 

Kimberly Wright Cassidy ’85 
Kimberly Wright Cassidy ’85 is a lifelong educator who served as Bryn Mawr College’s ninth president. Cassidy dedicated her career to changing generations of lives through the transformational power of the liberal arts.

Maurice Eldridge ’61
Maurice Eldridge ’61 served the Swarthmore community in myriad ways throughout his nearly three decades at the College. His long and deep commitment to education and the arts has had a lasting impact on the College community and beyond. 

Shamil Idriss ’94
Shamil Idriss ’94 is the chief executive officer of Search for Common Ground, a global nonprofit committed to transforming conflict into cooperation. Since becoming CEO in 2014, Idriss has expanded Search’s reach and influence, leading mergers and strategic partnerships with U.N. agencies, global NGOs, and multinational corporations.

You can read more about this year’s extraordinary group of recipients and their achievements on the College’s website.

I am grateful to all of you who submitted nominations for consideration. I also want to thank the members of the Honorary Degree Committee, which I have the pleasure of chairing, for putting forward an impressive group of individuals. The committee members include:

• Karen Borbee, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach
• Erin Brownlee Dell, Chief of Staff and Secretary of the College
• Bennett Lorber ’64, H'96, Board Manager Emeritus
• Dawn Porter ’88, H'21, Board Manager
• Matt Saunders, Associate Professor of Theater
• Robin Shapiro ’78, Board Manager Emeritus
• Bob Weinberg, Isaac H. Clothier Professor of History and International Relations; Director, Honors Program

Please join me in congratulating this year’s honorees. I look forward to celebrating them at the 2025 Commencement ceremony in May.

Sincerely,

Val Smith
President