Hunter Awards Honorary Degree to Jonathan F. Fanton

On November 19, President Jennifer J. Raab presented an honorary doctorate in humane letters  to Jonathan F. Fanton, president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The ceremony took place at Hunter's Roosevelt House, the historic building that was once the Manhattan residence of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

From 2009 to 2014, Fanton served Hunter as interim director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute. A leading scholar and human rights advocate and the author of Foundations and Civil Society and The University and Civil Society, Fanton was also the Franklin D. Roosevelt Visiting Fellow at Hunter. He is a past president of both the MacArthur Foundation and The New School.

As he accepted his Hunter degree, Fanton spoke of the belief he shares with President Raab that "universities have a role to play in strengthening our democracy, educating students to be engaged citizens, producing research that improves public policy to embody the values upon which our country was founded." He also quoted a statement by FDR on the critical role of education in safeguarding democracy. Consequently, Fanton said, "I think Franklin and Eleanor would be pleased with what happens every day in their home."