St. Olaf awards honorary degree to Davis Scholars Program Co-Founder Phil Geier
St. Olaf awarded an honorary degree to Phil Geier, the co-founder and executive director of the Davis United World College Scholars Program and co-creator of Projects for Peace, during the college’s annual Honors Day celebration on May 3.
Geier teamed up with philanthropist Shelby M.C. Davis in 2000 to create the Davis Scholars Program. It is now the largest privately funded international scholarship program in the world, currently supporting 4,000 students and a network of more than 10,000 alumni. Over the past 15 years, St. Olaf has received more $31 million in funding to support the enrollment of more than 400 Davis UWC Scholars.
“Becoming a Davis partner school in 2008 has transformed the St. Olaf College community,” St. Olaf Associate Dean of Admissions and Director of International Recruitment Jenny Howenstine ’98 said as she introduced Geier at the ceremony.
Howenstine nominated Geier for the honorary degree alongside Professor of Political Science Kris Thalhammer, who noted that the campus has been “energized and challenged in the best possible ways” by students in the program.
“Davis scholars seem especially adept at embracing the study of the liberal arts. In classes they often are the ones asking the big questions, offering different perspectives, and encouraging others into conversation,” Thalhammer said. “The curiosity and drive that brought them to St. Olaf is infectious. We are a better place because Davis UWC Scholars have become such an integral part of our community. Thank you, Dr. Geier, for creating and administering this program.”
“We are a better place because Davis UWC Scholars have become such an integral part of our community. Thank you, Dr. Geier, for creating and administering this program.”
Professor of Political Science Kris Thalhammer
As Geier stepped to the podium in Boe Memorial Chapel to deliver his convocation remarks, he encouraged the faculty, staff, students, families, and friends gathered to take a moment to appreciate the 108 flags hanging in the sanctuary. The flags not only represent the home countries and tribal nations of St. Olaf students, Geier pointed out, but our collective humanity.
“Having these flags as such an apparent part of your convocation says something meaningful: that St. Olaf strives to build community out of difference,” Geier said.
President Susan Rundell Singer introduces Phil Geier. Photo by Steven Garcia ’20 
Kris Thalhammer (left) and Jenny Howenstine present Phil Geier with the honorary degree hood. Photo by Steven Garcia ’20 
Kris Thalhammer (left) and Jenny Howenstine present Phil Geier with the honorary degree hood. Photo by Steven Garcia ’20 
Phil Geier delivers remarks at the honorary degree convocation. Photo by Steven Garcia ’20 
Phil Geier delivers remarks at the honorary degree convocation. Photo by Steven Garcia ’20 
Jenny Howenstine (left) and Kris Thalhammer introduce Phil Geier. Photo by Steven Garcia ’20 
The honorary degree ceremony at Honors Day. Photo by Steven Garcia ’20
That work to make a difference lies at the heart of the Davis UWC Scholars Program, Geier said. In addition to the Davis Scholars Program, he also led the creation of Davis Projects for Peace. That initiative, also funded by Davis philanthropy, incentivizes college students to design and implement projects that can serve as building blocks for improving the world. Since 2007 more than 2,000 Projects for Peace have been implemented in 154 countries.
“I regularly gain inspiration from our aspirational programs and the change we hope they have on the world,” Geier said.
It was a fitting message for Honors Day, an annual celebration of student academic accomplishments, a time to express gratitude for faculty members, and an opportunity to say “thank you” to alumni and friends of the college who provide scholarships.
After a welcome from President Susan Rundell Singer, Provost and Dean of the College Marci Sortor congratulated students named to dean’s list and academic honor societies, as well as those who had received special honors such as the Fulbright Grant, Princeton in Asia Fellowship, Goldwater Scholarship, Rotary Global Grant, and Gilman Scholarship.