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For the first time since 1970, Dylan has accepted an honorary doctorate from an American university — and it’s in Boston.

By Lauren Daley

November 5, 2025 | 9:01 AM

2 minutes to read

You may call him Bobby, or you may call him Zimmy. And as of today, you may call him Boston’s Dr. Dylan.

For the first time since 1970, Bob Dylan has accepted an honorary doctorate from an American university: Boston’s Berklee College of Music.

“Thank you, Berklee College of Music, for bestowing on me this prestigious honor. What a pleasant surprise,” Dylan, 84, stated in a Berklee press release.   

“Who knows what path my career might have taken if I’d been fortunate enough to learn from some of the great musicians who taught at Berklee. It’s something to think about.”

Arguably, his acceptance is more of an honor for Berklee.

“This is an incredible moment for this institution,” Berklee President Jim Lucchese stated in the release.  “He’s an artist who has never stopped evolving … That’s the spirit we try to cultivate here every day. Honoring him feels like a reaffirmation of the creative impulse that built this place.”

Dr. Dylan now joins Berklee’s roster of honorary docs including Duke Ellington, Joni Mitchell, B.B. King, Ringo Starr, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Loretta Lynn, and others. #DreamFaculty.

There’s no special ceremony tied to the degree. (Probably a solid plan, as this is the dude who famously skipped his Nobel Prize ceremony in 2016.)

But, in a simple twist of fate, Berklee had previously announced a Dylan tribute: “Watching the River Flow: A Roots Salute to Bob Dylan” Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. (GA tickets from $20.)

Billed as a “roots-fueled tribute,” the concert “honors Dylan’s immeasurable impact on popular culture with performances from students, faculty, alumni, and visiting artists that highlight his deep knowledge and nuanced appreciation of roots and Americana music,” per Berklee.

Dylan last received an honorary degree from Scotland’s University of St. Andrews in 2004 — but hasn’t accepted one from an American college since 1970 at Princeton. 

He attended that one in person — and it sounds like this day was torturous. He wrote “Day of the Locusts” (on “New Morning”) about the event, which was marked by droning of recently hatched 17-year cicadas:

“Darkness was everywhere, it smelled like a tomb …  The weather was hot, a-nearly 90 degrees … I put down my robe, picked up my diploma … Sure was glad to get out of there alive.”

Bob, if you want to hit up the tribute show, it’s OK. We promise: no cicadas swarming Boston. Temps in the 50s. You’re safe here.

“Bob Dylan has been a transcendent force in American and global culture for 60-plus years,” said event coproducer Matt Glaser, artistic director of Berklee’s American Roots Music Program in a statement.  

“He is a great template to help Berklee students understand what it means to be a creative artist with a sustaining vision.”

Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer who writes extensively about Bob Dylan. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1. Read more stories on Facebook here.

Lauren Daley

Lauren Daley is a longtime culture journalist. As a regular contributor to Boston.com, she interviews A-list musicians, actors, authors and other major artists.

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