Dominican University Presents Honorary Degree to Co-Founder of Scholarship Fund for Undocumented Students

River Forest, IL—The co-founder of the largest national scholarship fund for undocumented students will be recognized with an honorary degree from Dominican University.

Donald E. Graham will be presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa and address graduates during DU's winter 2024 commencement ceremony on Dec. 14.

In 2013, Graham co-founded TheDream.US, which to date has provided more than 10,000 college scholarships totaling over $200 million for students facing barriers to higher education due to their immigration status. Living out its mission to make a college education accessible to all, Dominican University has partnered with TheDream.US since 2015, becoming a school of choice for students unable to attend or afford college any other way.

Graham is also the co-founder of the District of Columbia College Access Program (DC CAP). Since 1999, DC CAP has provided college scholarships to more than 35,000 students in Washington, D.C., many from marginalized communities and without secure funding sources for higher education. Beyond funding, DC CAP works with these students to guide and motivate them to complete their degrees. 

Since 2023, Mr. Graham has served as chairman emeritus of Graham Holdings Company, owner of various print, online and television media entities, and manufacturing, healthcare, automotive and educational services companies. He became chief executive officer of the company, previously known as The Washington Post Company, in 1991 and was chairman of the board from 1993 to 2023. 

Graham began his career as a journalist with The Washington Post, which his grandfather, Eugene Meyer, purchased in 1933. Both of Graham’s parents held leadership roles at the newspaper as well. In 1974, Mr. Graham was elected to the paper’s board and two years later, he was appointed executive vice president and general manager. From 1979 to 2000, he held the position of publisher of the Post. His family sold the paper in 2013.

Winter commencement will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. in the Lund Auditorium on DU's River Forest campus. Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be conferred.  A livestream of the ceremony will also be available.

About Dominican University      

Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution offering an Associate of Arts in liberal arts and sciences, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences, the Borra College of Health Sciences, the Brennan School of Business and the College of Applied Social Sciences. The university also offers doctoral degrees in information studies and applied social justice. U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican University in the top 20 of Midwest regional master’s level universities, #1 in the Midwest for Best Value and #1 in Illinois for best undergraduate teaching and ensuring the social mobility of its graduates. A nationally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, Dominican University has campuses in River Forest and Chicago's Pilsen community.