Honorary Doctorate

Amrita established an Honorary Doctorate degree initiative in 2022 to recognise the world's leading scientists, academics, and public servants for their contributions to humanity.

We are very pleased to inform you that Chancellor Amma will award T Denny Sanford, world-renowned philanthropist, and Prof Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor of University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Doctorates of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) on January 4, 2023.

Mr Sanford is among the world's richest people known for his wish to “die broke” by providing for people in need. His total giving to date is more than $1.6 billion, with which he has established charitable initiatives for medical innovation, improved health care, and pediatric medicine.

This includes Sanford Health, a group of 47 non-profit hospitals that is the largest rural health system in the United States. He is also the founder of the Sanford Project, which funds efforts in finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes, and the benefactor of UCSD's Institute for Empathy and Compassion.

Born in Mumbai, Prof Khosla is a distinguished academic leader and electrical and computer engineer who became UCSD's eighth Chancellor in 2012. UCSD is an academic and research powerhouse that is recognised as one of the top 15 research universities in the world. Prof Khosla is heading initiatives fuelled by technology to foster collaboration and solve societal challenges.

He initiated UCSD's first-ever Strategic Plan and raised $3.05 billion, exceeding its original goal by more than $1 billion, making UCSD the youngest institution ever to complete a multi-billion-dollar fundraising campaign. With these efforts, he has significantly expanded college access and affordability for underserved populations, initiated interdisciplinary research, and strengthened university and community relationships and partnerships.

The special University Convocation will be held on January 4th, 2023 from 3:30 PM to 05:00 PM IST.