Emmy Award-winning Jamaican/American actress and humanitarian Sheryl Lee Ralph is the proud recipient of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, degree, from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Abbot Elementary star who was the commencement speaker at Drexel’s graduation exercise held recently, shared several images and video footage of the ceremony with her fans on social media. As a caption she wrote, “nine years ago I proudly celebrated my son as he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Film and Video from Drexel University, today I am deeply honoured to receive my honorary degree from Drexel, now there are two Drexel Dragons in the family!”

In May 2008, the actress was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Tougaloo College. 

Fifteen years later, in May 2023 she was given an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree by her alma mater, Rutgers University, where she started at 16, graduating in only three years in 1972, making history as the university’s youngest graduate at 19. 

In 2022, the Abbot Elementary star, became the first black woman in 35 years to take home an Emmy, after she won the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.