Jon Hagler To Be Presented Honorary Doctorate
Jon Hagler, a 1958 Texas A&M University graduate will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree during Texas A&M spring commencement exercises Friday (May 15).
Jon Hagler, a 1958 Texas A&M University graduate who for decades has distinguished himself in his career in business and civic leadership as well as his commitment to service in support of his alma mater, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree during Texas A&M spring commencement exercises Friday (May 15).
Awarding of honorary degrees is rare at Texas A&M, with only 70 previously presented during the university’s 139-year history.
After serving as an artillery officer in the Army following graduation and then earning an MBA at Harvard University in 1963, Hagler began his career in finance and investments. He founded the investment firms of Jennison Associates and Hagler, Mastrovita and Hewett. At age 40 he served as treasurer and chief investment officer for the Ford Foundation, one of the nation’s largest private philanthropies.
While distinguishing himself in business and philanthropy and being based in Boston, Hagler maintained close ties to Texas A&M throughout his career, providing financial support as well as visionary leadership in endeavors to advance and enhance the university institutionally. He served as co-chair of the landmark 20-year aspirational planning initiative resulting in the report titled Vision 2020: Creating A Culture of Excellence, which has served as a guidepost for the imperative elements of Texas A&M since 1999.
The nomination of Hagler originated in Texas A&M’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and was endorsed by the faculty senate and the administration and formally approved by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
“Reflecting his passion for public service and his investment expertise, Mr. Hagler has generously given of his time, energy and financial resources to support education and other philanthropic initiatives,” said CEHD Dean Douglas Palmer, who will serve as Hagler’s host during his campus visit to accept the honorary doctorate. “Mr. Hagler’s commitment to development of charitable and educational organizations transcends participation on boards; he has generously given of his own financial resources to support a variety of mission-critical activities. To paraphrase the adage of ‘walking the walk,’ Mr. Hagler has led the walkers.”
Palmer noted Hagler has provided almost 100 Foundation Excellence Scholarships at Texas A&M University — scholarships that provide outstanding students with limited financial resources the opportunity to attend Texas A&M.
“While Mr. Hagler has made extraordinary contributions to Texas A&M through his leadership of the Vision 2020 task force and philanthropy, his impact on financial investment activities of public service, educational and charitable organizations is national,” Palmer added. “The honorary doctorate is a prestigious recognition for Mr. Hagler’s extraordinary lifetime of accomplishments.”
With the awarding of the rarely authorized honorary doctorate, Hagler will be one of the most broadly honored graduates of the university.
In 1999, the university and The Association of Former Students jointly named him a Distinguished Alumnus and the campus building housing the Texas A&M Foundation was named in his honor. He has served the Texas A&M Foundation in a variety of leadership positions, including a term as chairman of its board of trustees having had a key role the most recent major capital campaign conducted on behalf of the university.
