Explore Previous Friar Classes
Over a century of changemakers and transformative leadersHonorary Friars
Honorary membership to Friars is awarded each year by the Graduate Board of Friars for outstanding work, enthusiasm, and commitment to Penn. Although entitled ‘honorary’ they are treated and act as full Friars.
* For the last 23 names listed below, the exact year of their induction as an Honorary Friar was not know.
| YEAR | HONORARY FRIAR |
| 2024 |
Steve Dolan |
| 2024 |
Larry Jameson |
| 2023 | John Jackson Vice Provost, University of Pennsylvania and Professor of Urban Anthropology |
| 2022 | Karen Reivich Director, Training Programs for the Penn Positive Psychology Center and Lead Instructor and Curriculum Developer, Penn Resilience Programs |
| 2021 | Kevin Stefanski Head Coach, Cleveland Browns |
| 2020 | Elise Betz Executive Director, Alumni Relations |
| 2019 | Steve Donahue Coach of Penn’s Varsity Men’s Basketball |
| 2018 | Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. 47th Vice President of the United States, Impetus for Penn Biden Center and Global Engagement, Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor, Annenberg School of Arts and Sciences |
| 2018* | Amy Gutmann President, University of Pennsylvania (*elected into Friars in 2004) |
| 2018 | Wendell Pritchett Vice Provost, University of Pennsylvania |
| 2017 | Mike McLaughlin University of Pennsylvania Women’s Varsity Basketball Head Coach |
| 2016 | Jean Chatzky Financial Journalist, Author and Motivational Speaker; Communications Committee at Penn |
| 2016 | Josh Kopelman Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, and Philanthropist; Lecturer at Penn; Committee for New President’s Innovation Prize |
| 2015 | George Weiss Charter Trustee and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board, Member of the Athletic Board of Overseers, Chair of Making History Campaign, Founder of Say Yes to Education |
| 2014 | John Fry Drexel University President, former Penn Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
| 2013 | Brian Roberts Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation |
| 2012 | Eric J. Furda Dean of Undergraduate Admissions |
| 2011 | Andrea Mitchell Co-Chair of Making History: The Campaign for Penn, Universitty Charter triustee, chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News and host of “Andrea Mitchell Reports” |
| 2010 | Jerome Allen Coach of Penn’s Varsity Men’s Basketball |
| 2010 | David Eisenhower Senior Fellow and Director of the Institute for Public Service at The Annenberg School |
| 2009 | Michael A. Nutter Mayor of Philadelphia |
| 2008 | Ronald Sanders Registrar of the University of Pennsylvania (*deceased) |
| 2008 | William “Wags” Wagner Coach of Penn’s Sprint/Lightweight Football, father of Friar Beth Wagner Coyne ’86 |
| 2007 | Mary Ann Baker Greenawalt Alumni Trustee and mother of Friars Cynthia Greenawalt-Carvajal ’87 and Jon Greenawalt ’91 (*deceased) |
| 2006 | Ron Daniels Provost of the University of Pennsylvania |
| 2005 | Ty Furman Director of the Performing Arts Program at Penn |
| 2004* | Amy Gutmann President of the University of Pennsylvania *** (officially awarded honor in 2018) |
| 2004 | Patricia L. Rose Director of Penn’s Career Services |
| 2003 | Rosemarie Burnett Director of the Penn Athletic Academic Advising System |
| 2003 | Roger Reina Coach of Penn’s Varsity Wrestling |
| 2002 | Bob Alig Assistant Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania, Alumni Relations |
| 2001 | None given due to our 100th Gala |
| 2000 | Karen Gaines Editor-in-Chief of The Almanac |
| 2000 | Demer Holleran Coach of Penn’s Varsity Women’s Squash |
| 1999 | Didi Owens Past President of the Association of Alumnae and mother of Friar John Owens ’91 |
| 1999 | Willis J. “Lee” Stetson Dean of Penn’s Undergraduate Admissions |
| 1998 | Kathy (Lawlor) Gilbert Coach of Penn’s Varsity Men’s and Women’s Swimming |
| 1998 | Sheldon Hackney Past President of the University of Pennsylvania (*deceased) |
| 1997 | Robert Levy Alumni Trustee and Assistant Coach of Penn’s Varsity Women’s Tennis (*deceased) |
| 1996 | Stanley Bergman Coach of Penn’s Varsity Heavyweight Crew |
| 1996 | John N. Reardon President of the General Alumni Society |
| 1995 | Fran Dunphy Coach of Penn’s Varsity Men’s Basketball |
| 1994 | Marjorie O. “Midge” Rendell U.S. District Court Judge |
| 1994 | Sally Shoemaker Mother of FOUR Friars: Peter ’86, John ’87, Chris ’91, Julie ’94 |
| 1993 | E. Digby Baltzell Penn Professor Emeritus of Sociology (*deceased) |
| 1992 | Howard Mitchell Professor of Wharton School in Management (*deceased) |
| 1991 | Byron Dresner Associate Dean of the Wharton School |
| 1990 | Audrey C. Bedford Director of the Alumni Council on Admissions |
| 1990 | Harold Haskins Director of Supportive Services at Penn (*deceased) |
| 1989 | Doris Dannenhirsh-Beshunsky Founder and Coach of the Pennquinettes (*deceased) |
| 1988 | Lucy D. Hackney Esq Champion of Legal Services for Children (*deceased) |
| 1987 | Nicholas Constan Jr. Assistant to the President of the University of Pennsylvania and Adjunct Associate Professor of Legal Studies (*deceased) |
| 1986 | Dr. Joseph Bordogna Dean of the Engineering School |
| 1986 | Claire M. Fagin Dean of the School of Nursing , Interum President of the University (*deceased) |
| 1985 | Ross Webber Vice President for Development and University Relations |
| 1985 | Seymour Finkelstein Alumni Trustee of the University (*deceased) |
| 1985 | Myron Mainthow Former Alumni Trustee of the University (*deceased) |
| 1984 | John P. Hellwege President of the General Alumni Society |
| 1983 | Dr. Joel Conarroe Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences |
| 1983 | Robert A. Glascott Director of Intramural Athletics and Recreation |
| 1982 | Marge Brown Mrs. Robert F. “Bo” Brown ’28 (*deceased) |
| 1981 | Herbert Hartnett Director of Sports Information/Athletic Media Relations |
| 1981 | Sara S. Senior President of the General Alumni Society |
| 1980 | Peter Riley Father of the late Peter K. Riley ’59 (*deceased) |
| 1978 | Penny Rubincam Assistant Director of Alumni Relations |
| 1977 | David C. Auten President of the General Alumni Society (*deceased) |
| 1977 | Ronald Bond Director of Recreation |
| 1976 | Connie Van Housen Director of Women’s Athletics/td> |
| 1974 | Stephen Goff President of the Mask & Wig Graduate Club and Director of the Annenberg Center |
| 1973 | Ione A. Strauss President of the General Alumni Society (*deceased) |
| 1972 | Bruce E. Montgomery Director of the Penn Glee Club (*deceased) |
| 1971 | Martin Meyerson President of the University of Pennsylvania (*deceased) |
| 1970 | Samuel H. Ballam President of the General Alumni Society (*deceased) |
| 1969 | John A. Russell Vice Provost for University Life (*deceased) |
| 1968 | No Record |
| 1967 | Victor T. Ehre Active Alumnus (*deceased) |
| 1966 | Sarkes Tarzan Alumni Trustee of the University (*deceased) |
| 1965 | Robert M. Rhodes Editor of the Pennsylvania Gazette (*deceased) |
| 1961 | Edwin J. Pollock Sports Editor, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin (*deceased) |
| 1960 | Walter H. Annenberg University Trustee, Publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Owner of TV Guide, Diplomat and Benefactor of Annenberg School of Communication (*deceased) |
| Albert C. Baugh Professor and Chairman of English (*deceased) |
|
| Clay A. Boland Mask and Wig (*deceased) |
|
| Thomas A. Budd Associate Head of Wharton, Professor of Finance (*deceased) |
|
| Stuart H. Carroll Executive Vice President of the General Alumni Society (*deceased) |
|
| Robert W. Clipp Trustee of the University, Head of TV Nation WFIL (*deceased) |
|
| Windsor F. Cousins President of the General Alumni Society (*deceased) |
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| John M. Fogg Jr. Vice Provost and Dean of the College (*deceased) |
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| Richard A. Harter Head Varsity Basketball Coach (*deceased) |
|
| H. Hunter Lott Jr. Member of the Athletic Council (*deceased) |
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| Luther Martin III President of the General Alumni Society (*deceased) |
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| Karl G. Miller Dean of the College for Women (*deceased) |
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| Albert G. Molloy Varsity Tennis Coach (*deceased) |
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| Paul H. Musser English Professor, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and then Administrative Vice President of the University (*deceased) |
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| H. Sherman Oberly Dean of Admissions |
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| Merle M. Odgers Dean of the College of Liberal Arts for Women, and then President of Bucknell (*deceased) |
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| Walter O’Malley Emeritus Alumni Trustee, President of the Los Angeles Dodgers (*deceased) |
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| Froelich Rainey Director of the University Museum (*deceased) |
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| Isador S. Ravdin Professor of Surgery and Vice President for Medical Affairs (*deceased) |
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| Gilbert Seldes Founding Dean of the Annenberg School of Communications (*deceased) |
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| W. Brooke Stabler Chaplain of the University (*deceased) |
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| W. Chattin Wetherill Vice President, for Student Welfare (*deceased) |
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| Morris Wistar Wood Secretary of the General Alumni Society (*deceased) |
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| Harold L. Zellerbach Emeritus Life Trustee of the University (*deceased) |
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