Lee Pelton to receive honorary doctorate at fall commencement Lee Pelton to receive honorary doctorate at fall commencement

Lee Pelton will receive an honorary doctorate from Wichita State on Sunday, Dec. 17, in Charles Koch Arena. Pelton, a native of Wichita and the son of a police department manager and a homemaker, earned a bachelor's degree at WSU in 1973 and a Ph.D. in English literature from Harvard University.

Teaching positions at Harvard were followed by positions as dean at Colgate University, then Dartmouth College. Pelton went on to become president of Willamette University at the age of 46, where he served for 13 years before becoming the 12th president of Emerson College in Boston.

Pelton's scholarship and leadership are valued by the many organizations in which he is active and is reflected in the distinguished awards bestowed upon him. An inspirational speaker as well as a leader, Pelton is an influential voice on important topics such as education, civic engagement, communication and cultural diversity.

In nominating Pelton for the honor to the Kansas Board of Regents, WSU President John Bardo said, "His outstanding achievements and visionary leadership make him an excellent candidate for this award."

Pelton will return to campus to receive the 2017 WSU Alumni Achievement Award in April 2018.