Hello, Bates Class of 2026 Families –

We are excited to let you know that Bates has just announced the 2026 honorands!

The following individuals will receive honorary degrees from Bates on Sunday, May 31, at the Class of 2026’s Commencement ceremony:

• Deborah Harkness, historian and #1 internationally best-selling author of the All Souls series of novels, will receive a Doctor of Letters degree.
• H. Scott Bierman ’77, a leading economist in the study of game theory, president emeritus of Beloit College, and a former member of the Bates Board of Trustees, will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
• Ru Gunawardane ’95, a biologist who has led groundbreaking research efforts in cell biology and drug therapies, will receive a Doctor of Science degree.
• Seema Hingorani, an investment executive at Morgan Stanley and founder of the nonprofit Girls Who Invest, will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Deborah Harkness will deliver the Bates College Commencement address. The Class of 2026 senior speaker has not yet been announced.

We’ll be sharing additional updates in the coming weeks as we look ahead to celebrating this milestone with your family!

With best regards,
The Bates Parent Team