Leaders in Arts, Business and Public Service to Receive Honorary Degrees
By University Relations – Communications, May 14, 2014
At the 2014 commencement celebration, six honorary degrees and an Alumni Achievement Award will be presented to leaders for their accomplishments in the arts, humanities, business and public service.
Commencement speaker Anna Maria Chávez and five other leaders in arts, humanities, business and public service will receive honorary degrees during the 2014 Commencement celebration at the University of Arizona on Saturday. In addition, the UA Alumni Association will present its Alumni Achievement Award.
The recipients of the honorary degrees are:
Alumni Achievement Award
Turki Faisal Al Rasheed, founder and chairman of Golden Grass Inc. The 2014 Alumni Achievement Award will be presented to Turki Faisal Al Rasheed . This
award is given to alumni who have attained prominence in their field of endeavor and demonstrated outstanding service to the UA.
Al Rasheed received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from the UA in 1981, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees from universities in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. Today, he is a prominent agribusiness leader, a champion of democratic processes and voting rights in the Middle East, and a proud alumnus who actively represents the UA in the Gulf region.
Al Rasheed is the founder and chairman of Golden Grass Inc. , one of the largest agribusinesses in Saudi Arabia. He is currently an adjunct faculty member in the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences , and frequently visits to give guest lectures on food safety and sustainable agriculture and its role in alleviating world hunger.
Al Rasheed also founded and chairs the Saudi Voters Center, a website encouraging Saudi nationals to be involved in social and political decisions that affect their country.
Al Rasheed has remained connected to the UA in many ways. He plays a critical role in the UA’s activities in the Gulf region, advising on grant proposals, making introductions, and promoting academic and scientific collaboration. He was one of the founding members of the UA alumni network in the Gulf region and in 2013 hosted a reunion for Saudi alumni at his home.
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