University of Minnesota Presents Marilyn D. Stewart with an Honorary Doctorate

Authored By: wells438 02/03/2025
Photo collage of Dr Stewart and guests from the event.

Dr. Stewart celebrated this honor with family, friends and supporters of UMR in Rochester.

For her advocacy and leadership that led to the establishment of the Rochester campus of the University of Minnesota (UMR), U of M Regents have awarded Marilyn D. Stewart an honorary Doctor of Laws for public service. The honorary doctorate is the highest award granted by the University. The commencement ceremony took place in Rochester, hosted by UMR’s Chancellor Lori Carrell, Ph.D. with the degree conferred by U of M Regent, Ruth Johnson, M.D., a Mayo Clinic physician. Former Gov. Pawlenty, U of M President Emeritus Robert Bruininks and UMR’s Chancellor Emeritus Stephen Lehmkuhle provided remarks. 

Stewart received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota in 1949. She and her husband Jack moved to Rochester where Jack established a dental practice and Marilyn pursued a career in real estate. Her professional service included the Rochester Area Association of Realtors (president), the Minnesota Association of Realtors (president) and National Association of Realtors (Board of Directors). 

In addition to many professional accomplishments, Stewart engaged in a broad range of public service activities including advocacy to establish a University of Minnesota campus in Rochester. In the 1980s she was a founding member of FutureScan 2000, a collaborative effort among IBM, Mayo Clinic, City of Rochester, Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Olmsted County and other community leaders. Stewart then led and served the Greater Rochester Advocates for Universities and Colleges (GRAUC), to further expand and advance the political advocacy for a campus. In 2005, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed Stewart as head of the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee (RHEDC), a small group tasked with making recommendations to the Governor and Legislature regarding the postsecondary education needs of the Rochester area. “This transformational effort required exceptional leadership by Marilyn Stewart in most challenging times and circumstances - and it is an enduring contribution to our state in expanding educational opportunity and innovation in higher education,” shared U of M President Emeritus Robert Bruininks. 

In 2006, after months of meetings gathering input, navigating concerns and generating community and industry support, RHEDC was ready to present their recommendations to the University’s Board of Regents and the Minnesota Legislature. Both governing bodies voted “yes” and the Rochester campus was officially established. 

“It’s not an understatement to say that but for Marilyn’s advocacy and leadership of RHEDC, the establishment of the Rochester campus of the University of Minnesota System may not have occurred,” reflected Gov. Pawlenty. 

Stewart’s public service work didn’t stop once the campus was launched.  She also served on the search committee for the inaugural chancellor and today, she serves on the Chancellor’s Advisory and Advocacy Committee and steers the UMR Development Committee. “Her perspective, historical lens and high expectations (only “world-class” will do) continue to shape the direction of this campus,” shared Chancellor Carrell. She has also helped generate numerous scholarships by hosting events and sharing student stories with her community.

“All the achievements of the graduates of this health sciences campus, from the first class in 2013 and into the future, are and will be possible because of Marilyn Stewart’s public service, excellence and tenacity,” shared Chancellor Carrell. 

The formal citation from the Board of Regents for Dr. Marilyn Stewart states:

Because your lifelong commitment to public service has benefitted and inspired so many; because you broke several glass ceilings in multiple public service organizations; because your leadership, advocacy and vision helped create a new campus of the University of Minnesota in Rochester; because you paved the way for the education of hundreds of new health care professionals so they may also serve the greater good; because you are an extraordinary leader who continues to champion education while epitomizing what it means to put service over self – the Regents of the University of Minnesota hereby confer the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, for public service.