MSU names 2008 honorary doctorate recipients

Nancy Brown Dornan will receive a doctor of public affairs and Sue Savage-Rumbaugh will receive a doctor of science during spring commencement ceremonies May 16.

Dornan was instrumental in founding Springfield’s Walnut Street Historic Neighborhood Association, Historic Walnut Street Development LLC and ArtsFest. She was president of the Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust 1993–2007, during which she guided the $8.3 million renovation of the historic Gillioz Theatre and adjacent Netters building.

Dornan remains active in several downtown Springfield renovation projects, including the Busy Bee redevelopment and single-family residences in the Walnut Street neighborhood.

Savage-Rumbaugh conducts research in language and cognition on pygmy chimpanzees. She has written five books, made nine films and authored or co-authored 170 journal articles on the subject.

Savage-Rumbaugh also helped establish the Great Ape Trust of Iowa, where great apes live and interact with their human hosts.

Past recipients of MSU’s honorary doctorate have been Sister Lorraine Biebel, Harold Bengsch, David Harrison, Pat Walker, Annie Busch and Jim Craig.