June 2007

Columbia University Presents Honorary Degree to Alumnus Trachtenberg

By Rachel Muir

Columbia University awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, a Columbia alumnus, on May 16.

“I am honored to receive this distinction from my alma mater,” says Trachtenberg. “My undergraduate experience at Columbia was fulfilling, rewarding, and helped shape my ideas and career interests. At the time, I would not have predicted I’d still be at university nearly 50 years later.”

Trachtenberg graduated from Columbia in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. In 1995, he was awarded the university’s John Jay Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement, and he is among the “notable alumni” listed by the school. Trachtenberg participated in the university’s 250th anniversary in 2004, which coincided with his 45th class reunion. Both of Trachtenberg’s sons graduated from Columbia: His son Adam received a bachelor’s degree in 1997 and an M.B.A. in 2002, and his son Ben received a J.D. from Columbia School of Law
in 2005.

Trachtenberg also has received honorary degrees from several other institutions, including Boston University, University of New Haven, Odessa State Medical University, Gratz College, Southern Connecticut State University, Trinity College, Richmond College, Kyonggi University, Lyon College, and Touro College.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu