George Mason University honors former President Jimmy Carter with honorary degree

In recognition of former President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday on Oct. 1, George Mason University’s Board of Visitors (BOV) voted to award President Carter an honorary doctor of humane letters.

James “Jimmy” Earl Carter Jr. was the 39th president of the United States and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2002. This recognition, approved at the BOV meeting on Sept. 26, celebrates Carter’s legacy of selfless dedication to peace and a more just and peaceful world. 

In 2020, George Mason University renamed its School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution in honor of Carter’s diplomacy and human rights activism. The Carters were married for 77 years before Rosalynn’s death in 2023.  

“The George Mason University Board of Visitors is proud to offer this honorary doctorate to a man who has given so much to his country as a submarine officer in the Navy, in a lifetime of public service, and in his humanitarian works around the world,” George Mason Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson said.

“When your university offers a school that bears the Carter name,” George Mason President Gregory Washington said, “you’re announcing to the world: This university wants to make a difference. This university stands for making the world a more just place. This university is committed to a good greater than its own. For a century, President Carter has led the kind of life we aspire for our graduates to lead. We are proud to present him with this honorary doctorate and deepen the Carter legacy at George Mason University.”

Carter was elected President in 1976. His presidency is defined in large part by successfully mediating a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt with the 1978 Camp David Accords and, with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, signing the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II (SALT II) in 1979.

Since leaving office in 1981, the former president has been best known for his humanitarian work, including with Habitat for Humanity and through The Carter Center, which he founded in 1982 to work for peace and human rights around the world, including overseeing elections in young democracies, eradicating disease and conducting peace negotiations. 

“Throughout his life, President Carter has exemplified the values of compassion, service, and justice,” Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem said. “His tireless efforts to promote human rights, resolve conflicts, and alleviate poverty have inspired generations of peacebuilders, and his enduring legacy continues to guide the mission of our school. We are privileged to carry his name and uphold his commitment to making the world a more just and peaceful place.” Read more from the dean.

Members of the community are invited to participate in a special digital birthday card for President Carter, where they can express gratitude for his lifetime of public service and for his extensive work for peace.  

The Carter School encourages the public to share their stories and memories of President Carter’s legacy using the hashtag #Carter100.

Also, on Friday, Oct. 4, the Carter School will host an outdoor screening of the documentary “Rock N' Roll President” at Mason Square Plaza at 7:30 p.m. This documentary offers a unique look at how music and culture intersected with President Carter’s leadership during his time in office.

“As we celebrate President Carter’s 100th birthday, we are reminded that peace is not just a goal but a practice—a practice that requires dedication, collaboration, and hope,” Özerdem said. “Together, we can continue to build on President Carter’s legacy, working toward a world where peace, justice, and equality thrive.”