Renowned microbiologist Rita Colwell to receive Notre Dame honorary degree | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Renowned microbiologist Rita Colwell to receive Notre Dame honorary degree Renowned microbiologist Rita Colwell to receive Notre Dame honorary degree Published: April 07, 2016 Author: Sue Ryan Rita Colwell (photo courtesy of Rita Colwell) Rita Colwell, a molecular microbiologist whose research focuses on global infectious diseases, water and health, will receive a doctor of science honorary degree at the University of Notre Dame’s 171st University Commencement Ceremony on May 15 (Sunday). She joins six previously announced honorary degree recipients. Currently a Distinguished University Professor at both the University of Maryland and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, she has spent her career working as a researcher, educator and leader within the science sector. Her cholera research has spanned the globe from the Chesapeake Bay to the developing world, concentrating on locally based, inexpensive filtration methods to produce safe drinking water. Named the first woman to direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 1998, she led that organization through 2004, with a focus on expanding K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education and increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. After completing her term as director of NSF, she joined Canon Inc. to help establish Canon U.S. Life Sciences, serving as chairman and chief scientist. In 2006, Colwell was awarded the National Medal of Science by President George W. Bush. She is the recipient of many other awards, including the 2010 Stockholm Water Prize; the Order of the Rising Sun, awarded by the emperor of Japan; and the National Council for Science and the Environment Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2008, Colwell founded CosmosID Inc., a genomic big data company that focuses on rapid identification of microorganisms for infectious disease diagnostics, where she is currently the chairman and global science officer. A highly sought-after counselor on science policy and education matters, she has held advisory positions within government, nonprofit science policy organizations, private foundations and the international scientific research community. The author or co-author of 17 books and more than 800 scientific publications, she has been awarded 61 honorary degrees. Contact: Sue Lister, director of media relations, 574-631-7916, sue.lister@nd.edu Posted In: Commencement Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related July 06, 2022 Antonio Ortiz to speak at ACE Commencement ceremony May 29, 2022 The Commencement of the class of 2020 May 29, 2022 Class of 2020 Graduate School degree recipients encouraged to ‘embrace the uncomfortable middle’ and to ‘seek joy’ May 26, 2022 Robert J. Bernhard, vice president for research, to keynote 2020 Graduate School Commencement Ceremony May 25, 2022 Class of 2020 returns for a Commencement ceremony two years in the making For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn