Dr. Jane Goodall world-renowned conservationist, ethologist and UN Messenger of Peace, will return to the University Saturday, April 23 to receive the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters at the College of Arts & Sciences ceremony. She last visited the University in 2011 when she addressed a sold-out audience in the Memorial Chapel, and will this year offer the keynote address at the College of Arts & Sciences ceremony. Though this commencement ceremony is not open to the public, Goodall’s remarks will be posted on our website at Redlands.edu shortly after the ceremony.

Goodall is best known for her landmark study of chimpanzee behavior in what is now Tanzania. Her work at Gombe Stream would become the foundation of future primatological research and redefine the relationship between humans and animals. 

In 1977, Dr. Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute, which continues the Gombe research and is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. The Institute is widely recognized for innovative, community conservation and development programs in Africa and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program. Goodall started Roots & Shoots with a group of Tanzania students 25 years ago and today the program involves hundreds of thousands of young people from preschool through university in more than 130 countries.

During her 2011 visit, Goodall joined in the local Roots & Shoots program, run by University of Redlands Community Service Learning. Today, Goodall travels nearly 300 days each year, inspiring action on behalf of endangered species, particularly chimpanzees, and encouraging people to do their part to make the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment we all share.

To learn more about Dr. Goodall and the work of the Jane Goodall Institute, please visit www.janegoodall.org.