Karen Holmes Ward, WCVB’s Director of Public Affairs and Community Service and host and executive producer of CityLine, will be presented with an honorary doctorate by Cambridge College on Sunday, June 3, 2018, at the college’s 47th commencement exercises.
Karen Holmes Ward, WCVB’s Director of Public Affairs and Community Service and host and executive producer of CityLine, will be presented with an honorary doctorate by Cambridge College on Sunday, June 3, 2018, at the college’s 47th commencement exercises.
In addition to Holmes Ward, the college will bestow honorary degrees to Eastern Bank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Rivers and Senior Vice President and Global Head of Client Solutions Group and Program Management Office for State Street Corporation, Yvonne Garcia. Rivers will also deliver the Cambridge College 2018 commencement address to nearly 500 graduates who will be awarded degrees from across the College’s undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs. The commencement exercises will begin promptly at 11:00 AM at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston.
Career Highlights:
Karen Holmes Ward is the Director of Public Affairs and Community Services as well as host and executive producer of CityLine, WCVB’s award-winning weekly magazine program which addresses the accomplishments, concerns, and issues facing people of color living in Boston and its suburbs. Many notables including Oscar winners Lupita Nyong’o, Forest Whitaker, Octavia Spencer, and Denzel Washington; and Oscar nominees Daniel Kuluuya, Taraji P. Henson, and Oprah Winfrey have been interviewed by Holmes Ward for CityLine. CityLine has been a recipient of the Associated Press Massachusetts/Rhode Island ‘Best’ Public Affairs Program and numerous Emmy nominations. Holmes Ward also oversees WCVB’s public service and community outreach efforts, acting as liaison between the station and dozens of WCVB’s nonprofit partners.
A graduate of Boston University’s School of Public Communications (now COM), Holmes Ward has received numerous awards for her work in the community including the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences ‘Silver Circle’ Award for Lifetime Achievement; Boston Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award; National Association of Black Journalists Region I Journalist of the Year; Big Sister of Greater Boston Achievement Award; Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts President’s Award; Women of Courage and Conviction Award from the Greater Boston Section National Council of Negro Women, Inc. among others. She serves on the Board of Tenacity, the Advisory boards of the Greater Boston Food Bank and Rosie’s Place and is the Chair of the Boston University Black Alumni Council.
Holmes Ward was also presented an honorary doctorate from Merrimack College on Sunday, May 20th at the college’s 68th commencement exercises.
