The University of Colorado Board of Regents announced on Mar. 26 the recipients of its 2026 Honorary Degrees, Distinguished Service Awards, and University Medals. The nominees were approved by the full board in November following recommendations from the Regents Awards Selection Committee. Awardees have been invited to attend upcoming commencement ceremonies, with dates and locations yet to be determined.
These annual awards honor individuals for their exceptional contributions in areas such as intellectual achievement, university service, philanthropy, public service, and dedication to the state or nation. The Honorary Degrees are given for outstanding achievements in intellectual contributions or public service; Distinguished Service Awards recognize those whose work is closely associated with Colorado or the nation; while University Medals are awarded to those whose impact is particularly linked to the university.
Among this year’s Honorary Degree recipients are Sue Anschutz-Rodgers and Richard “Dick” Brown (CU Anschutz), William King and Alice Mortenson (CU Boulder). Anschutz-Rodgers has led major philanthropic efforts supporting health care, education, conservation, and women’s leadership across Colorado. Brown has established endowed chairs at CU Anschutz focused on women’s cancers and patient experience after his wife received life-saving treatment at CU.
William M. King is recognized as a pioneering scholar who shaped Black Studies at CU Boulder over a forty-year career. Alice Mortenson co-founded the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering at CU Boulder—an initiative that has impacted millions globally through water and sanitation projects.
Distinguished Service Awards go to Lorii Rabinowitz (CU Denver), CEO of Denver Scholarship Foundation who expanded scholarship funding for thousands of students; and June Waller (UCCS), known for her five decades advocating social equity through housing initiatives and civic engagement programs in Colorado Springs.
University Medal recipients include Jim Hodge (CU Anschutz) for his leadership in philanthropy that secured major gifts advancing campus development; Deborah Mahan (UCCS) for facilitating funding supporting mental health initiatives; and Clyde Zaidins (CU Denver), a founding faculty member celebrated for teaching excellence and longstanding support of student research.
The regents’ recognition highlights individuals whose efforts have advanced education, research innovation, community well-being, social justice initiatives, mental health advocacy, science communication—and left lasting marks on both local communities and global partners.
