Citation of Andrew Aaron Sorensen
for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of University Administration
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
May 11, 2008

Andrew Aaron Sorensen, author, professor, academic leader. Your leadership in the field of higher education has had an enormous impact on our society and on the academic enterprise.

You have been a distinguished professor in the academic community and a recognized leader in American higher education for many years. You are known as an advocate for the highest standards of excellence in public education. Early in your administrative career you sounded the alarm for the urgency of HIV/AIDS research. In your first presidency at the University of Alabama you launched a vigorous campaign for high achievement and leadership among African-Americans, both in academia and in the community.

You have continuously demonstrated energy and creativity in establishing collaboration between your universities and private sectors. As president of the University of South Carolina, you are an inclusive leader, an advocate for quality and academic excellence, and a voice of reason in both academics and intercollegiate athletics.

In appreciation of your dedication to excellence, your achievements in higher education, and upon the recommendation of the Senate of the Urbana-Champaign campus, it is a great honor to present you to the President of the University for the honorary degree of Doctor of University Administration.

Presented by Bradford S. Schwartz, Regional Dean of the College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign