University of Rhode Island to Award Honorary Degree to Viola Davis

Viola Davis can now add a University of Rhode Island degree to her already impressive resume.

The Rhode Island native will be on campus on Saturday, May 18, to receive an honorary Doctorate of Letters from URI in recognition of her professional and personal achievements.

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URI to Welcome Viola Davis May 18

According to the university, URI will honor more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate degree candidates from Friday, May 17, through Sunday, May 19, in eight college-based ceremonies at the Ryan Center.

“I could not be more pleased with this year’s honorary degree recipients, whose lives and work serve as an inspiration to our university and exemplify impressive achievements and contributions to the arts, philanthropy, business and public service,” URI President Marc Parlange said.

Viola Davis Got Her Start in Central Falls

Before she was an established A-lister, Viola Davis grew up in Central Falls, Rhode Island. A graduate of Juilliard, Davis began her career in the smallest state and is now one of just 19 individuals to ever achieve EGOT status — a designation for those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

READ MORE: Rhode Island Classroom Shocked to Get Visit from Viola Davis

“In 2017, she was honored by Time magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people, and in 2022,  received the Public Counsel’s William O. Douglas Award for her commitment to social justice causes,” according to the university.

A degree from Juilliard.

An honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Rhode Island College.

An honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Rhode Island.

EGOT recipient.

We see you, Viola. The term “icon” doesn’t seem strong enough.

This Rhode Islander embodies the true meaning of a role model.