On May 15, Duke University will award Rita Dove an honorary PhD in a ceremony along with Duke's current graduating students. She will receive her degree alongside six other distinguished individuals, including Alan Page, NFL Hall of Fame member, judge, and education activist, and Eric Shinseki, secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs and former Army chief of staff.

"I'm delighted that these distinguished individuals will be joining our graduates for their commencement," said Duke President Richard Brodhead. "In the range of their accomplishments, they will send our students off with the message: Now it's your turn to live up to your highest potential."