Honorary Degree Recipients
Riverland honors individuals whose leadership, service, and community impact have made a meaningful difference to the college and the region. The recipients below have been recognized with honorary degrees for their contributions.
| Recipient | Degree Awarded | Profession at Time of Award | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoff Smith | Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | President, IBI Data; Riverland Community College Foundation Board President | May 2023 |
| Gary J. Ray | Honorary Doctor of Education | Former Chair of The Hormel Foundation | May 2019 |
| Bonnie Besse Rietz | Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | Riverland Community College Foundation Board of Directors member; The Hormel Foundation Board of Directors vice-chair; Blandin Foundation Board of Trustees member | May 2015 |
| Terrance N. Dilley | Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | Riverland Community College Instructor and Faculty Emeritus | May 2013 |
| Richard L. Knowlton | Honorary Doctor of Education | Chair of The Hormel Foundation and former President/CEO of Hormel Foods, Inc. (Austin) | May 2011 |
| Gauher "Mo" Mohammad | Honorary Doctor of Education | Vice President, Doherty Staffing Solutions (Owatonna) and Riverland Community College Foundation board member | May 2009 |
| Steve Waldhoff | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | Chief Administrative Officer, Albert Lea Medical Center (Albert Lea) | May 2007 |
| Jeffrey Kritzer | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | Attorney, Hormel Foods Inc. (Austin) and Riverland Community College Foundation board member | May 2005 |
| Jim Wendorff | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | Vice President of Human Resources, Viracon (Owatonna) and Riverland Community College Foundation board member | May 2003 |
| Allan Larson | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | Owner, Larson Contracting Inc. (Austin) and Riverland Community College Foundation board member | May 2002 |
| Elliot Dubinsky | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | Business owner (Austin) and Riverland Community College Foundation benefactor | May 2001 |
| Dan Dorman | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | Business owner (Albert Lea), state representative, and Riverland Community College Foundation board member | May 2000 |
| Roger Boughton | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | Retired Vice President of Academic Affairs, Riverland Community College and Riverland Community College Foundation board member | May 2000 |
| Nancy VanderWaerdt | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | Business owner (Albert Lea) and Riverland Community College Foundation board member | May 1999 |
| Timothy McManimon | Honorary Associate of Arts Degree | President, Wells Fargo Bank (Owatonna) | May 1998 |