Iris Cantor Receives Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree
Foundation President and Chairman Iris Cantor received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from California’s Laguna College of Art+Design at its May commencement ceremonies. On a beautiful California Day, College President Jonathan Burke acknowledged the distinguished accomplishments of Iris Cantor, saying her
longstanding contributions to improving health care, education and the arts have made our world, this nation and our community stronger, healthier, and more inspiring. Her commitment for the care and well-being of others has left an imprint deep and indelible. The Foundation created by Iris and B. Gerald Cantor created the largest, most comprehensive collection of Rodin’s art. The Foundation has sent traveling exhibitions of Rodin sculpture to cultural institutions across the globe for more than five decades and has reached over ten million people.
President Burke went on to express his delight that members of Iris Cantor’s extended family were present for the ceremony and gave a special nod to Foundation Trustee Ryan Fisher for supporting LCAD’s representational directions in its teaching of fine arts and digital arts. He noted that in 2011 the Foundation loaned the College a small exhibition of Rodin sculpture, calling it the first such exhibition in Orange County and reporting to the commencement audience that the exhibition was lauded as one the top-ten exhibitions of 2011 in Orange County.
Turning to Mrs. Cantor, President Burke said “We are delighted to celebrate [your]… accomplishments…. An honorary doctorate in fine arts is our way to acknowledge and thank you publicly for your unwavering devotion to humanity and…an extraordinary lifetime of service. On behalf of Laguna College of Art+Design, it is a great honor to confer an honorary degree, doctorate in fine art, to Iris Cantor.”
This is the second Doctor of Fine Arts degree for Mrs. Cantor, having previously been awarded one by the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
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