VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan receives honorary doctorate from US University

Srinagar, May 11: G. Viswanathan, Founder and Chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), New York, USA, in a ceremony held on May 9, 2025.

A statement said that the prestigious recognition was presented by Dr. David C. Munson, the President, and Dr. Prabu David, the Provost & Senior Vice President for academic affairs at RIT, honoring Viswanathan for his vision and leadership in expanding Science, Technology, Engineering & Management (STEM) Education across India and his dedication to supporting underprivileged communities.

This marks a rare distinction as it is the third time an American university has bestowed an honorary doctorate upon Viswanathan. He was previously honored by West Virginia University, USA, in 2009, and by the State University of New York, Binghamton University, USA, in 2024. Additionally, he received an honorary doctorate from St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, earlier in 2025.

Speaking at the ceremony, Viswanathan expressed his gratitude for the recognition. "I am deeply honored by this distinction from Rochester Institute of Technology. This recognition reflects the commitment of VIT to global standards of education and our mission to make quality education accessible to all," he said.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including Sankar Viswanathan and Dr. Sekar Viswanathan, Vice-Presidents of VIT, along with Dr. Kanchana Bhaaskaran, Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. R. Seenivasan, Director of International Relations, the statement said.