Academy award nominated filmmaker Ava Duvernay, known for Selma; 13th; A Wrinkle in Time; When They Us amongst other high profile movies has been honoured with an Honorary Doctorate from the prestigious Yale University.
The acclaimed producer and filmmaker made Yale’s small group of 2021 honorary doctorate recipients. Yale has been awarding honorary degrees since 1702 in recognition of outstanding achievements and noteworthy contributions.
Commenting on the honours by the school board of trustees on awardees, in a video, Yale University’s president, Peter Salovey, lauded DuVernay, dubbing her a “pathbreaking filmmaker known for projects that give voice to women and people of color, is widely seen as a champion for representation and justice.’
Salovey also described DuVernay as a “creator and critic who portrays the richness and variety of human experience from all angles.
“By elevating others, you bring new stories into focus and amplify voices we need to hear. Hollywood maverick, for challenging us to reckon with our past and our present, and for working to change both an industry and society, Yale is pleased to confer on you this Doctor of Fine Arts degree,” Salovey said.
An excited DuVernay took to Instagram to showcase her doctorate, using the opportunity to thank Yale University’s special committee for the honor.
“My mom is over the moon and has taken to calling me Dr. DuVernay. Hope that wears off. But the joy of your high regard will not. A thrill to share this with the formidable Class of 2021 and my esteemed fellow honorees,” DuVernay wrote.
Award winning DuVernay – the highest grossing black woman director in American box office history has got her hands packed, she is currently overseeing production of the TV series Queen Sugar, The Red Line, and an OWN series called Cherish the Day.
Well deserved Queen!