Honorary Degrees

Mayor Muriel Bowser, Honorary Doctor of Laws

Muriel Bowser is the seventh elected mayor of Washington, DC. She has a strong record of creating a bold urban policy agenda, making tough decisions in a high-stakes environment, and shaping a diverse economy.

Mayor Bowser has served her hometown in elected office since 2004 as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (2004–2006), Member of the DC Council (2007–2015), and Mayor since 2015. She is only the second person elected three times as mayor of Washington, DC, and the first African American woman elected to three, four-year terms as mayor of an American city.

Since taking office, Mayor Bowser has reset DC’s global and national competitiveness, sped up affordable housing production, led the city through a global pandemic, diversified the DC economy, and cemented DC’s role as the Sports Capital.

Zandra Chestnut, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Zandra Millicent Chestnut is a lifelong Washington, D.C. resident and dedicated community leader whose work has profoundly impacted environmental stewardship, arts and civic engagement in Ward 7 and beyond. For more than five decades, she has committed her life to strengthening communities, uplifting youth, and preserving the natural beauty of the Anacostia River and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Chestnut began her career with the Metropolitan Police Department before expanding her public service on Capitol Hill, where she served in key administrative roles for several United States senators. Her years in federal service reflected a deep commitment to excellence and public trust. She later continued her professional journey with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, managing operations in Washington, D.C.

A visionary leader and entrepreneur, Chestnut co-founded the Center for Green Urbanism, LLC, and played an instrumental role in the development and implementation of Groundwork Anacostia River, D.C., advancing environmental restoration and community-based initiatives. She also co-founded the Green Urban Arts Collective, where she merges environmental advocacy with artistic expression to inspire community engagement.

Her leadership extends across numerous organizations, including service on the boards of the Friends of the National Arboretum and the Anacostia Riverkeeper, as well as her past role as chair of the Friends of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Through her volunteer work, she actively participates in citizen science efforts, conducting weekly water monitoring of the Anacostia River to promote environmental health and awareness.

An accomplished artist and lifelong learner, Chestnut is a member of the Exposure Group, African American Photographers Inc., and has contributed to exhibitions that celebrate culture and community. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Anacostia River Civic Spirit Hero Award and the Mayor’s Spirit of Service Award. Most notably, she is an active member of the East of the River Steelband, Pan Village, where she inspires youth engagement and cultivates cultural enrichment through music.

Above all, Chestnut is a devoted wife of 55 years, mother of six, grandmother of 15 and great-grandmother of four. Her life’s work stands as a testament to the power of service, the strength of community and the enduring impact of leading with purpose, compassion and vision for generations to come.

Dennis Chestnut, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Dennis Lamar Chestnut is a native Washingtonian and a lifelong resident of Ward 7. Chestnut is a master carpenter and a vocational educator by profession, but his dedication to youth development, community improvement and civic duty has led to his involvement in many civic and conservation projects. He has a passion for conservation and the environment and has advised many community, business and government leaders on civic ecology and civic engagement issues.

Growing up in Ward 7, Chestnut became connected to the many natural spaces, parks, streams and the Anacostia River, where he learned to swim as a child. Chestnut is the former executive director of Groundwork Anacostia River DC. Among the many programs and projects developed by Groundwork, the Green Team youth leadership program and the Bandalong litter trap trash reduction program stand out. Managing multiple litter traps resulted in keeping tons of trash and floatable debris from entering the Anacostia River, one of Groundwork’s signature programs restoring the health of the river.

Chestnut has served as a board member with many organizations, including the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Casey Trees, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the East of the River Steelband and the Resilience Hub Community Coalition. Chestnut is a senior fellow of the Chesapeake Region Environmental Leadership Program and an appointee to the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River and the Urban Forestry Advisory Council.

Chestnut is a founding member of the United for a Healthy Anacostia River Coalition, the National Capital Region Anacostia Watershed Stewards Academy, and the Anacostia Watershed Community Advisory Committee. He has received numerous awards, including the Greater Washington Interfaith Partnership Vision Award, the DC Appleseed Sustainable Living and Leading Award, the River Network River Hero Award, the Cox Communications Trust for Public Land Cox Conserves Heroes Award and the Chesapeake Conservancy Lifetime Champion Award. Chestnut has also appeared in numerous publications, books and video documentaries that highlight his work on restoring the health of the Anacostia River, improving natural resources and quality of life east of the river and developing high-quality youth programs.