Western's first honorary doctorate presented at fall 2011 commencement

Jane Lubchenco, chief administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a celebrated marine scientist, received Western Washington University’s first honorary doctorate degree at fall Commencement Saturday, Dec. 10.

Earlier this year, Western was given authority by the Washington State Legislature to grant honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of outstanding achievement in arts, letters, sciences, or the professions, or for service in education, government or humanitarian endeavors. Lubchenco’s accomplishments as a scientist, her advocacy for improved dialogue between scientists and the public, and her leadership on environmental policy at the national level qualify her for the honor on multiple levels.

Lubchenco has been the chief administrator of NOAA since 2009, making her the first marine ecologist and the first woman to hold the top post at NOAA . She is a widely respected environmental scientist and marine ecologist who was named “2010 Newsmaker of the Year” by the scientific journal “Nature.” A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Lubchenco’s academic contributions to the study of oceans, climate change and the interactions between the environment and humans have made her one of the most highly-cited ecologists in the world.

Lubchenco was a guiding force in responding to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2009. She is also a tireless advocate for a comprehensive national response to the environmental challenges of rising seas, declining fish stocks, and the increasingly precarious health of marine ecoystems and coastal communities.

A firm believer that scientific knowledge must be shared with the broader community, Lubchenco co-founded three organizations, The Leopold Leadership Program, the Communication Partnership for Science and the Sea (COMPASS) and Climate Central, whose goal is to communicate scientific knowledge to the public, policy makers, media and industry.

Lubchenco grew up in Colorado and received her undergraduate degree from Colorado College. After earning a Master of Science from the University of Washington, Lubchenco received her Ph.D. and taught at Harvard University. From 1977 until her appointment as NOAA administrator, Lubchenco was a distinguished professor of marine biology and zoology at Oregon State University.