Congressman Towns to Receive Honorary Doctorate from Fordham University

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) is among eight notables in national security, religion, the arts, medicine, business and government service who will be presented honorary degrees by Fordham University during its 2012 commencement exercises.  The 15-term congressman will be presented a doctor of humane letters, honoris causa, on Sunday, May 20, 2012 during diploma ceremonies for the Graduate School of Social Services at Radio City Music Hall.  Rep. Towns will give the commencement address.

Rep. Towns, who earned his M.S.W. degree from Adelphi University and was a lecturer at Fordham University in the early seventies, is being honored as a champion of the social work profession.   Rep. Towns is the founder and chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus and has authored numerous pieces of legislation in support of the social work profession and its work on behalf of children and families, the elderly and disabled, including the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Social Work Reinvestment Act.

Rep. Towns, who recently announced his retirement from the House of Representatives said, “I am moved by this honorary degree from Fordham University.  My professional career has been shaped in a significant way by my social work training and I look forward to continuing my work fighting for economic and social justice for all.”

Others receiving honorary degrees are: John Brennan, deputy national security adviser for counterterrorism and homeland security for the Obama Administration; Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York; singer Tony Bennett; actress Phylicia Rashad; Michelle DePass, assistant administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs in the Environmental Protection Agency; pediatrician Eugenie Doyle; and Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund.

Fordham University was founded in 1841 as the Jesuit University of New York and has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, and campuses in West Harrison, N.Y., Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre at Heythrop College in the United Kingdom.  The Graduate School of Social Service was founded in 1921 and is one of the largest social work programs in the world.  Dr. Peter B. Vaughan is the dean.

Rep. Ed Towns received hood and cap from Fordham University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane (left).

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