Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Honorary Doctorates (2024)

2023

• Justice Prof. Elyakim Rubinstein Israel Former Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Israel

  Photo: Judicial Authority

• Esther Halpérin Switzerland Philanthropist

  Photo: Arianne Leroux

• Dr. Chelsea Clinton United States Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation; advocate for health care equity

  Photo: Clinton Foundation

• Prof. Menachem Elimelech Israel & United States Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University

  Photo: Duda-Studio

• Dr. Segenet Kelemu Kenya & Ethiopia Director, Intl Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology

  Photo: Brian Mwashi, icipe

• Patrick Drahi Israel & France Businessman and Philanthropist

  Photo: courtesy

2022

• Ursula von der Leyen Germany European Commission President

  Photo: Etienne Ansotte

• Sylvan Adams Israel Businessman & Philanthropist

  Photo: Yediot Ahronot

• Rabbi Denise L. Eger USA Reform Rabbi

  Photo: Josh Friedman

• David Grossman Israel Author

  Photo: Claudio Sfroza

• Timotheus Höttges Germany CEO of Deutsche Telekom

  Photo: Deutsche Telekom AG

• Cyndi and Max Mintzberg Canada Supporters of BGU

  Photo: Frank Visuals

• Prof. Louise Richardson United Kingdom Political Scientist, University of Oxford

  Photo: John Cairns

• Prof. Nahum Sonenberg Canada & Israel Professor of Biochemistry at McGill University

  Photo: Mr. Owen Egan

2021

• Dr. Ruth Westheimer USA Sex Researcher and Therapist

  Photo: Courtesy

2019

• Dr. Jan Low USA Leading Authority on International Food Security

  Photo: Teddy Mitchener

• Ohad Naharin Israel Choreographer

  Photo: Ilya Melnikov

• Justice Prof. Ahmad Natour Israel Human Rights Champion, Erudite Qadi and Scholar

  Photo: Reuven Castro

• Amb. Daniel B. Shapiro USA Former United States Ambassador to Israel

  Photo: Matty Stern

• Toni Young USA President of the American Associates of Ben-Gurion University

  Photo: Public Relations

2018

• Prof. Robert Badinter France Lawyer and Politician

  Photo: Public Relations

• Elena Dmitrievna Bashkirova Germany and Russia Pianist and Musical Director

  Photo: Nikolaj Lund

• Prof. Nili Cohen Israel Legal Scholar

  Photo: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities

• Dr. Ilana Dayan Israel Investigative Journalist

  Photo: Yossi Zwecker

• Anat Draigor Israel Former Captain of Israel's National Basketball Team

  Photo: Ci & Maytav Draigor Kadman

• Arno Gerlach Germany Humanitarian Causes Activist

  Photo: Andreas Fischer

• Prof. Edvard I. Moser Norway Neuroscientists and Nobel Prize Laureate

  Photo: TiTT Melhuus, Kavli Institute

• Janet Napolitano USA Politician. Lawyer and University Leader

  Photo: University of California

• Prof. Cary Nelson USA Professor of English and BDS Opponent

  Photo: UI News Bureau

• Rona Ramon z"l Israel Public Activist and Ramon Foundation Founder

  Photo: Tami Bar Shai for Chicbox Everyday Photography

• Prof. Colin Ratledge UK Chemist

  Photo: Public Relations

• Prof. Dame Carol Robinson UK First Female Professor of Chemistry at Cambridge and Oxford

  Photo: Public Relations

• Imad Telhami Israel Businessman

  Photo: Dina Telhami

2017

• Prof. Linda B. Buck USA Nobel Prize Laureate

  Photo: Kevin Wolf/ AP Images for HHMI

• Ruvik Danilovich Israel Mayor of Beer-Sheva

  Photo: Michel Amzaleg

• Prof. Ruth Gavison Israel Legal Scholar and Activist

  Photo: The Israeli Academy of Sciences and Humanities

• Hon. Julia Gillard Australia First Woman Prime Minister of Australia

  Photo: Public Relations

• Prof. Shafi Goldwasser Israel Professor of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

  Photo: Jason Dorfman

• Prof. Elihu Katz Israel Founding Director of Israeli Television

  Photo: Kyle Cassidy

• Sigalit Landau Israel Artist

  Photo: Yotam Frum

• Prof. Eric S. Lander USA Geneticist, Molecular Biologist and Mathematician

  Photo: Tony Cenicola/ The New York Times

• Ellen S. Marcus USA Philanthropist

  Photo: Public Relations

• Menahem Pressler Israel Pianist and Professor of Music

  Photo: Marco Borggreve

• Prof. Stanley B. Prusiner USA Nobel Prize Laureate

  Photo: Russ Fischella

• Moshe Safdie Israel Architect

  Photo: Stephen Kelly

• Carole and Marcus Weinstein USA Business Leaders and Philanthropists

  Photo: Public Relations

2016

• Major General (res.) Doron Almog Israel Founder and Chairman of ALEH Negev – Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Naomi Chazan Israel Academic and Former Member of the Israeli Knesset

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Irwin Cotler Canada International Human Rights Lawyer and Member of Canadian Parliament

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Harvey V. Fineberg USA Physician. Noted researcher in the fields of health policy

  Photo: Courtesy

• Nurit Hirsh Israel Composer and Creator

  Photo: Ilan Besor

• Prof. Valerie Mizrahi South Africa Molecular Biologist

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Nathan Nelson Israel Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Expert

  Photo: Courtesy

• H.E. Gabriel Elorriaga Pisarik Spain Former Spanish Parliamentarian

  Photo: Marián Marroquín

• Ernest Scheller, Jr USA Prominent Business Leader and Philanthropist

  Photo: Courtesy

• Dan-Benaya Seri Israel Author

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Silvia Torres-Peimbert Mexico Astronomer

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Jeffrey D. Ullman USA Computer Scientist

  Photo: Courtesy

2015

• Prof. Yisrael Aumann Israel Nobel Prize Laureate

  Photo: Smadar Bergman

• Prof. Jill Banfield USA Scientist

  Photo: Margaret Gennaro

• Erez Biton Israel Poet and Author

  Photo: Rachel Biton Kalahora

• Prof. Adele Diamond Canada Neuroscientist

  Photo: David Fok

• Prof. Carol Gilligan USA Feminist, Ethicist, and Psychologist

  Photo: Joyce Ravid

• Prof. Anne Glover UK Molecular and Cell Biologist

  Photo: Robert Taylor

• Alexander M. Goren Chairman of BGU’s Board of Governors

  Photo: Public Relations

• Prof. Jacques Lewiner France Physicist and Inventor

  Photo: Dominique Morisseau

• Yitzhak Livni Israel Former Director General of the Israel Broadcasting Authority

  Photo: Courtesy

• Lorry I. Lokey USA Businessperson and Philanthropist

  Photo: Public Relations

• Michal Rovner Israel Artist

  Photo: Avi Mussel

• Judy Siegel-Itzkovich Israel Journalist

  Photo: Courtesy

• Judith Yovel Recanati Israel Social Activist

  Photo: Gadi Dagon

2014

• Shlomo Bar Israel Singer, Songwriter, and Composer

  Photo: Ariel Van Straten

• Dr. Linda S. Birnbaum USA NIEHS and NTP Director

  Photo: Courtesy

• James M. Breslauer USA Businessman and Philanthropist

  Photo: Scott Smeltzer

• Prof. Linda B. Buck USA Nobel Laureate

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Saul Friedländer USA Historian

  Photo: Omri Lior

• Dr. Nahum Guzik USA Businessman and Philanthropist

  Photo: Omri Lior

• Prof. Andrew D. Hamilton UK Chemist and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford

  Photo: Philip Sayer

• Evgeny Kissin UK Classical Pianist

  Photo: Courtesy

• Baroness Ariane de Rothschild France Banker and President of the Board of the Edmond de Rothschild Group

  Photo: Mr. François du Chatenet

• Dr. Cheryl Saban, PhD USA Philanthropist and Woman's Advocate

  Photo: Michael Segal

• Prof. Yaakov Sussmann Israel Academic and Talmud Scholar

  Photo: Kobi Kalmanovitz

• Dr. Yossi Vardi Israel Entrepreneur and Innovator

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Shulamit Volkov Israel Historian

  Photo: Courtesy

• Miriam Zohar Israel Actress

  Photo: Eyal Landesman

2013

• Prof. Patrick Aebischer Switzerland Neuroscientist

  Photo: Alain Herzog – EPFL

• Prof. Ofer Bar-Yosef Israel Archaeologist and Anthropologist

  Photo: Cotsen Institute UCLA

• Cherie Blair CBE UK Barrister and Social Activist

  Photo: John Swannell

• Prof. Joshua Blau Israel Scholar of Arabic language and literature

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Mario R. Cappechi USA Nobel Prize Laureate

  Photo: Sean Garff Photography

• Maxine Fassberg Israel General Manager of Intel Israel and Global Vice President

  Photo: Intel

• Ruth Flinkman-Marandy USA Philanthropist and Real Estate Management Executive

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Robert Langer USA Engineer, Scientist, Entrepreneur and Inventor

  Photo: Bachrach

• Prof. Raphael Mechoulam Israel Scientist

  Photo: Courtesy

• David Tartakover Israel Artist, Graphic Designer, Researcher and Curator

  Photo: Vered Adir

2012

• Prof. Yakir Aharonov Israel Renowned Quantum Physicist, Observer of the Aharonov–Bohm Effect

  Photo: Courtesy

• Adina Bar Shalom Israel Founder of the first higher education college for Haredim

  Photo: The Haredi College of Jerusalem

• Justice Dorit Beinisch Israel President (emeritus) of the Supreme Court of Israel

  Photo: Yossi Zamir

• Prof. Howard (Haim) Cedar Israel/USA Biochemist

  Photo: Hezi Hojesta

• The Baroness Deech DBE UK Academic, Lawyer and Bioethicist

  Photo: Courtesy

• Matthew Gould CMG, MBE UK Diplomat / British Ambassador to Israel

  Photo: Mati Milstein

• Prof. Deborah Lipstadt USA Historian and Holocaust Scholar

  Photo: Emory University

• Jean-Pierre Raffarin France Former Prime Minister of France

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Jesse Roth USA Diabetes Researcher

  Photo: NSLIJ Studios

• Meir Shalev Israel Author

  Photo: Nadia Landau

• Berta Yampolsky Israel Founder and Artistic Director of the Israel Ballet

  Photo: Emanuel Ogdan

• Dr. Debrework Zewdie Ethiopia Deputy Executive Director of the Global Fund

  Photo: The Global Fund

2011

• Azaria Alon Israel Environmental Activist and Founder of the Society for the Protection of Nature

  Photo: Courtesy

• Raya Strauss Bendror Israel Businesswoman and Philanthropist

  Photo: Ilya Melnikov

• Prof. France A. Córdova USA Astrophysicist and President of Purdue University

  Photo: John Underwood

• Bob Geldof KBE UK Musician and Social Activist

  Photo: Kruger Cowne Ltd

• Sir Martin Gilbert UK Historian

  Photo: Courtesy

• Yehudit Hendel Israel Writer

  Photo: Courtesy

• Rivka Michaeli (Sharoni) Israel Comedienne and Actress

  Photo: Meir Azulai

• Prof. Donna E. Shalala USA President of the University of Miami

  Photo: Courtesy

• Karen Tal Israel Former Principal of Bialik-Rogozin Campus in South Tel Aviv

  Photo: Sharon Bentov

• Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen UK Theatre Owner-Manager and Producer

  Photo: Sipke Visser

• Prof. Daniel Weihs Israel Researcher

  Photo: Yossi Shrem

2010

• Prof. Rachel Elboim-Dror Israel Scholar and Researcher
  See Also

  Israeli university which lost 54 staff and students finds a wartime role

  Photo: Olivia Pitussi

• Prof. Peter Fritz Germany Scientist

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Yekutiel Gershoni Israel Scholar

  Photo: Nissim Photos

• Gustave S. Levey USA Businessman and Philanthropist

  Photo: Sandy Buller

• Maj. Gen. (res.) Amram Mitzna Israel Public Servant and Former IDF Officer

  Photo: Courtesy

• H.E. Miguel Ángel Moratinos Spain Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain

  Photo: Courtesy

• Toby Mower USA Addiction Therapist and Philanthropist

  Photo: Courtesy

• Abraham Ben David Ohayon Switzerland Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Eliora Ron Israel Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Tel Aviv University

  Photo: Courtesy

• Eric F. Ross USA Businessman and Philanthropist

  Photo: Dani Machlis

• Dr. Martine Rothblatt USA Attorney and Entrepreneur

  Photo: Courtesy

• H.E. Simone Veil France awyer, Politician and First Female President of the European Parliament

  Photo: Courtesy

• Prof. Abraham B. Yehoshua Israel Author

  Photo: Daniela Zedda

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