McCarter & English partner and former longtime New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Princeton University in recognition of her distinguished public service and legal career.
LaVecchia served on the New Jersey Supreme Court for over two decades, where she authored numerous influential opinions that helped shape state law. During her tenure, she presided over hundreds of cases and agency hearings and was widely recognized for her extensive knowledge of New Jersey’s governmental and regulatory systems.
Before joining the Supreme Court, LaVecchia held senior positions in New Jersey state government, including Commissioner of Banking & Insurance, Chief Administrative Law Judge, and Director of the Division of Law within the Department of Law and Public Safety. Since retiring from the bench, LaVecchia has served as a partner at McCarter & English, where she advises clients on administrative law, regulatory matters, and complex litigation.
Princeton awarded a total of six honorary degrees at its May 26 commencement ceremony to leaders whose work has had a lasting impact in law, science, government, the arts, and global affairs. The other five recipients of honorary degrees are:
- William J. Burns. A career ambassador who served six presidents, Burns retired from the U.S. Foreign Service and went on to serve as the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and later as director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2021-2025. Princeton awarded Burns an honorary Doctor of Laws.
- Steven Chu. A Nobel laureate and former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chu is a pioneering physicist whose research is foundational to quantum science and whose public policy leadership has advanced energy science and technology. Now a professor at Stanford University, Chu was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science from Princeton.
- Caryl Emerson. Emerson is a globally renowned scholar and professor emeritus of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Princeton University, where she served as longtime chair of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. She has shaped decades of scholarship and teaching on Russian and Central European literature, theater, music, and philosophy. Princeton awarded Emerson an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
- Herbie Hancock. An Academy Award winner and recipient of 14 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for “River: The Joni Letters,” Hancock’s artistic journey began at age 11, when he performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 26 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Over the decades, his exploration of synthesized music and his pioneering innovations have influenced countless artists, redefined ensemble collaboration, and expanded the possibilities of improvisation. Princeton awarded Hancock an honorary Doctor of Music.
- Strive Masiyiwa. A Zimbabwe-born entrepreneur and humanitarian, Masiyiwa’s integrated technology enterprises, Econet Group and Cassava Technologies, have expanded digital access and economic opportunity for millions in Africa and equipped entrepreneurs to compete globally. Through the Higherlife Foundation and Delta Philanthropies, he and his wife, Tsitsi, have expanded access to education for more than 400,000 young Africans, strengthened maternal health outcomes, and transformed rural communities. Princeton awarded Masiyiwa an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Photo caption: (L-R) Princeton University awarded six honorary degrees at the 2026 Commencement ceremony. From left: Steven Chu, William Burns, Strive Masiyiwa, President Christopher L. Eisgruber, Caryl Emerson, Jaynee LaVecchia, and Herbie Hancock. – Photo credit Denise Applewhite, Princeton University Office of Communications
