Diane Rehm to receive honorary degree from Virginia Theological Seminary
Episcopal News Service. April 23, 2007 [042307-06]
Diane Rehm, host of WAMU 88.5 and National Public Radio's "The Diane Rehm Show," will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) at its May 17 commencement ceremonies in Alexandria, Virginia.
"As an Episcopalian for my entire adult life, I am deeply honored by this award," said Rehm. "I regard Virginia Theological Seminary as one of the outstanding religious educational institutions in the country; therefore, this degree means a tremendous amount to me."
Rehm is a native of Washington, D.C., and began her radio career in 1973 as an assistant producer for talk shows at WAMU 88.5. She became host and producer of two health-oriented programs and in 1979 was selected to host her current local morning talk show, former known as “Kaleidoscope.” Each week, more than 1.7 million listeners across the country tune in to the program, which has grown in 27 years from a local morning call-in show to a public broadcasting powerhouse.
"Throughout her distinguished radio career, Diane Rehm has demonstrated her ability to make her guests feel at ease while drawing them into thoughtful reflections and conversation with her listeners around a myriad of topics," said the Rev. Martha J. Horne, VTS dean and president. "The issues addressed range from politics to religion, from the arts to the natural sciences, from current events to cultural and historical perspectives. Diane's careful orchestration of the conversations allows time and space for the unique personalities of her guests to emerge, and allows her listeners to share their personal stories, as well as their questions. Her compassionate presence and her integrity are models for all aspiring journalists."
VTS, the largest of the eleven accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church, confers honorary degrees of Doctor of Divinity or the layperson equivalent, Doctor of Humane Letters, in recognition of faithful and notable service, in parish ministry, overseas missions, academia, and ecumenical, social, diocesan and national church ministries. Past recipients of the Doctor of Humane Letters include former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.