Print Page

Honorary Degree Recipients


Newsweek magazine editor Jon Meacham delivered Dickinson College’s Commencement address on Sunday, May 23. Meacham received an honorary degree in journalism. Honorary degrees also were awarded to Paula S. Apsell, senior executive producer of the science television series NOVA; Deborah Bial, president and founder of The Posse Foundation Inc.; and Marcia Dale Weary, founder and artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.


Paula S. Apsell

Paula Apsell, senior executive producer of the television series NOVA and director of the Boston-based WGBH Science Unit, received an honorary degree in science education. Apsell has overseen production of many award-winning WGBH Science Unit specials, including “A Science Odyssey,” “Secrets of Lost Empires,” “Building Big” and the eight-part miniseries, “Evolution.”

Honorary Degree Citation

Deborah Bial

Deborah Bial, president and founder of The Posse Foundation Inc., received an honorary degree in education. Bial founded The Posse Foundation in 1989 and, in doing so, has offered an alternative model for identifying promising young people from less-advantaged, urban environments and opened opportunities for these students to pursue higher education.

Honorary Degree Citation

Marcia Dale Weary

Marcia Dale Weary, founder and artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, received an honorary degree in performing arts. Widely regarded as a legend among teachers of classical ballet, she began her journey 55 years ago when she founded the Marcia Dale Weary School of Dance in a renovated barn at the end of a country lane in Carlisle.

Honorary Degree Citation

Jon Meacham

Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek magazine and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, received an honorary degree in journalism. Meacham joined Newsweek as a writer in 1995, was named managing editor in 1998 and was appointed editor of the magazine in 2006. He won the Pulitzer Prize last year for his 2008 book, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House.

Honorary Degree Citation