Video Profiles: 2022 Honorary Degree Recipients
At the University of Oklahoma’s 130th Commencement ceremony, the university presented honorary degrees to five outstanding individuals in recognition of their extraordinary achievements and generous service.
Learn more about this year’s honorary degree recipients in the videos below.
James J. Mulva
A former OU student in the mid-1960s, where he was active in the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, James J. Mulva is a successful businessman and retired naval officer. His generosity has enhanced one of OU’s most treasured landmarks – the OU Armory – and will safeguard the rich tradition of the university’s ROTC programs.
R. Lynn Riggs (honored posthumously)
R. Lynn Riggs was an internationally recognized Cherokee poet, playwright, screenwriter and drama theorist whose work depicted both the allure and tragedy of pioneer life. Born in 1899 southwest of present-day Claremore, Riggs attended OU from 1920 to 1923. His work inspired the wildly popular musical, Oklahoma!
Susan Stroman
A five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway director and critically acclaimed choreographer, Susan Stroman has helped elevate OU musical theatre to even higher national stature through her mentorship and ongoing collaborations with students, faculty and alumni.
J.C. Watts Jr.
A former OU quarterback who led the Sooners to back-to-back Orange Bowl victories in 1980 and 1981, J.C. Watts Jr. made history by becoming the first African American elected to a statewide office in Oklahoma and the state’s first Black United States Representative.
David Brooks
Bestselling author, New York Times columnist and 2022 OU Commencement speaker, David Brooks is an influential writer whose work commenting on modern society, morals and American culture has helped shape the national conversation on these topics.
Article Published: Wednesday, May 18, 2022