Chicago mayor to receive honorary doctorate from NUI Galway

The mayor of Chicago will receive an honorary doctorate from NUI Galway at a ceremony today.

The university is set to confer Mayor Rahm Emanuel with a degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), which will see him join the likes of Nelson Mandela, Hilary Clinton, Cyril Ramaphosa, Enya, Anjelica Huston, and Margaret Atwood.

Professor Ciarán ó hÓgartaigh, NUIG president, said: “The cities of Galway and Chicago are twinned as sister cities for over 21 years. Since then a strong and dynamic relationship has developed bringing social, cultural, educational and economic benefits and reflecting the many personal and professional links between our two great cities.

“In honouring Mayor Emanuel, we as a University signal what we value. We recognise not only these ties which bind Galway and Chicago in our role as Galway’s university. We also signal the importance of public service, of acting locally with global impact, and of democracy, sanctuary and freedom – in the world and for the world.”

Mayor Emanuel is the 55th mayor of Chicago and has led high-profile economic and education reforms in the city.

Before becoming Mayor, he was the White House Chief of Staff in the Obama administration and served three terms in the US House of Representatives representing Chicago’s 5th District.