The Portuguese Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, is one of the 2022 Carnegie Mellon Honorary Degree Recipients, one of the highest distinctions presented to an individual by Carnegie Mellon. Heitor will deliver, on May 13, the keynote address at the Commencement ceremony for master’s and doctoral degree graduates and receive a Doctor of Science and Technology honorary degree. CMU Honorary recipients are a source of inspiration to Tartans and their families gathered at graduation between May 13-15.
Manuel Heitor has served since November 2015 as Portugal’s Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education and was, between 2005-2011, the Portuguese Secretary of State of Science, Technology and Higher Education. Heitor has been a longtime supporter of the CMU Portugal Program and of all its initiatives, strengthening the relationship between Carnegie Mellon and the Portuguese scientific and innovation ecosystem throughout the years.
Two of his most recent visits to Carnegie Mellon University Campus in Pittsburgh, 2019 and 2021, were focused on strengthening and reinforcing the cooperation between Portugal, Carnegie Mellon University, and Industry through the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program.
Among many other initiatives, Manuel Heitor has promoted the Program Go-Portugal — Global Science and Technology Partnerships Portugal to stimulate the internationalization of Portuguese science and technology research, fostering the creation of scientific and qualified jobs and new technology-based companies. He has also been particularly involved in the development of the Portuguese and European Space strategies, and the enforcement of research and innovation policies, including advanced computing. Heitor is a full professor at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) from Universidade de Lisboa and was the founder and director of IN+, IST´s Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research.
This year, two other recipients will join the Portuguese Minister in delivering Commencement keynote addresses, including Billy Porter and Frances Arnold. Billy Porter is a CMU alumnus, an Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer, director, composer, author and playwright. He will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts degree and deliver the keynote address at the Commencement ceremony for bachelor’s degree graduates on Sunday, May 15. Chemistry Nobel Laureate, Frances Arnold, will receive a Doctor of Science and Technology degree and will deliver the keynote address at the doctoral hooding ceremony on Saturday, May 14.
The full list of honorary degree recipients I available on CMU’s original article.
