{"id":3885,"date":"2026-03-17T10:19:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T10:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/?page_id=3885"},"modified":"2026-03-17T11:33:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T11:33:35","slug":"awards","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Honorary Degrees and the President\u2019s Medal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Honorary Degrees and the President\u2019s Medal<\/h1>\n

\n Western Connecticut State University recognizes individuals whose lives and work reflect the values we seek to advance through higher education, intellectual achievement, public purpose, community leadership, and a deep commitment to others.\n <\/p>\n <\/section>\n\n

\n At a glance:<\/strong> WestConn\u2019s 2026 honorees are Robert J. Yamin, Esq., recipient of the Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, and Richard Asselta, recipient of the President\u2019s Medal. The University also introduced a more inclusive and deliberative nomination and review process in 2026, grounded in shared leadership and representative committee input.\n <\/div>\n\n
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2026 Honorees<\/h2>\n
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\n \"Robert\n
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Honorary Degree<\/div>\n

Robert J. Yamin, Esq.<\/h3>\n
Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters<\/div>\n
To be conferred:<\/strong> Graduate Student Commencement, May 19, 2026<\/div>\n

\nWestern Connecticut State University will confer the Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters upon Robert J. Yamin, Esq., in recognition of his distinguished legal career, civic leadership, and enduring commitment to WestConn and the greater Danbury community. A proud multigenerational Danburian and member of Danbury\u2019s Lebanese-American community, Mr. Yamin has long been one of the University\u2019s most visible and generous champions, consistently supporting WestConn and many other community-serving organizations across the region. <\/p>\n

\nA proud WestConn alumnus, Mr. Yamin graduated summa cum laude with dual degrees in Political Science and History, completing a four-year course of study in just two years while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. He later earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he served as President of the Harvard Law School Student Bar Association. His career has included more than four decades in the legal profession, including founding and leading Yamin & Yamin, LLP, and 22 years of service as Corporation Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for the City of Danbury, making him the longest-serving Corporation Counsel in the city\u2019s history. <\/p>\n

\nEqually significant is his longstanding service to WestConn and the broader community through alumni engagement, Foundation leadership, civic involvement, and philanthropy. Mr. Yamin has served for many years on both the WestConn Alumni Association Board and the WestConn Foundation Board, including as Chair and now Vice Chair, and he has remained a passionate ambassador for the University in word and deed. His life and work reflect the highest ideals of leadership, service, gratitude, and devotion to the common good. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n \"Richard\n
\n
President\u2019s Medal<\/div>\n

Richard Asselta<\/h3>\n
2026 President\u2019s Medal Honoree<\/div>\n
To be presented:<\/strong> Undergraduate Student Commencement, May 18, 2026<\/div>\n

\n President Jesse M. Bernal will present the 2026 WestConn President\u2019s Medal to Richard Asselta in recognition of his decades of engagement with WestConn, extraordinary service and leadership, and deeply student-centered commitment to the University\u2019s mission. During his time as an adjunct social sciences instructor at WCSU, Mr. Asselta became a valued presence on campus, combining teaching with a wider commitment to environmental responsibility, global awareness, and community action.\n <\/p>\n

\nMr. Asselta\u2019s connection to WestConn is especially evident in his longstanding work with Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute. While teaching at the University, he developed a close friendship with Dr. Goodall and went on to help pioneer the Roots & Shoots youth program at more than 100 universities across the country, encouraging students to connect learning with service, environmental stewardship, and care for others. His work reflects a vision of education that reaches well beyond the classroom and invites students to see themselves as agents of positive change. <\/p>\n

\n That same spirit has shaped his impact in Danbury and beyond. In the years following Hurricane Maria, Mr. Asselta worked with Danbury students to support families in Puerto Rico through seed collection, honeybee kits, and farming and reforestation efforts designed to help communities rebuild and grow food locally. In doing so, he challenged young people to understand that even small acts of service can nourish a family, restore a community, and change a life. His recognition reflects the true spirit of the President\u2019s Medal, honoring an individual whose example has had lasting meaning for WestConn, its students, and the wider region.\n <\/p> \n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n

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About These Honors<\/h2>\n
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\n Honorary degrees<\/strong> are among the University\u2019s highest recognitions. They honor individuals whose achievements and service have made significant contributions to society, higher education, or the University itself.\n <\/p>\n

\n The President\u2019s Medal<\/strong> recognizes individuals whose leadership, service, and contributions have meaningfully advanced WestConn and the communities it serves. It honors enduring impact, generosity of spirit, and example.\n <\/p>\n

\n Together, these recognitions celebrate lives of consequence and service, and they connect our students and community to examples of leadership rooted in purpose and care for others.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n