Honorary Doctorate Recipients Approved
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 19, 2013) ― Leaders in the areas of physics, transportation safety, and basketball and business have been selected to receive honorary doctorate degrees at the University of Kentucky's Commencement ceremonies later this year. Nominated by the University Joint Committee on Honorary Degrees and approved by the University Senate, the honorary degree recipients approved by the UK Board of Trustees today are:
Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, is recognized as one of the nation's most visionary and passionate safety leaders who advocates for safety across all modes of transportation. Among her many initiatives, Hersman has focused attention and actions on distracted driving, child passenger safety and helping accident victims and their families. Prior to becoming chairman, Hersman was the NTSB's lead investigator at the scene of one of Kentucky's worst disasters, the 2006 crash of Comair flight 5191. Hersman was praised for her thorough investigation that resulted in several safety recommendations as well as her compassion for the families who lost loved ones. Transparency and accountability have been hallmarks of Hersman's tenure as NTSB chair. She has significantly increased the quantity and quality of NTSB information available online, held more public meetings to highlight safety issues, and embraced social media to communicate with citizens. Hersman will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities.
Robert Milton Huffaker, a native of Wayne County, Ky., has an over 50-year career as a distinguished physicist, company founder and CEO, and philanthropist. After earning a Bachelor of Science in physics and pursuing graduate studies at UK, Huffaker worked at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center for 15 years. Among his many accomplishments there was initiating and directing the development of laser Doppler systems for aerodynamic applications. He moved on to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and later founded Coherent Technologies, Inc. (CTI), in 1984 to develop Doppler laser radar technology and systems for meteorological and military applications. CTI was acquired by Lockheed Martin in 2005. A year later Huffaker founded Coherent Investments, which provides guidance and capital to early-stage companies. As a philanthropist, Huffaker has founded or co-founded three organizations that support and assist families and children. He also has donated well over $3 million to these and other nonprofit agencies. Huffaker will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Science.
Jamal Mashburn is a former UK All-America basketball star and NBA stand-out who played for the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and New Orleans Hornets over a 12-year professional career. Now retired from basketball, Mashburn's success continues in his business ventures; he has ownership interest in numerous restaurant franchises including 38 Outback Steakhouse restaurants, 39 Papa John's pizza outlets, and three Dunkin' Donuts stores. He also owns car dealerships in the Lexington area, real estate, hospitality services and thoroughbred race horses. From 2006-2010, he served as an on-air analyst for ESPN. Philanthropy began early for Mashburn, who donated $500,000 to endow the Jamal Mashburn Scholarship fund at UK at the outset of his professional career. He is a founder of the MAP foundation, focused on youth mentoring, and the Mashburn Family foundation that offers support for latch-key children and children of alcoholics and single mothers. Mashburn's businesses also actively participate in civic and charitable organizations. Mashburn will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities.
An honorary degree pays tribute to those whose lives and work exemplify professional, intellectual, or artistic achievement and who have made significant contributions to society, the state, and the University of Kentucky.