Attention, Broadway fans: LaChanze will soon be Dr. LaChanze. The Tony-winning actor and producer is receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Pace University, and she will address the graduates and their guests at the institution's 2024 graduation ceremony May 20 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. LaChanze's speech will be given at the 12:15 PM ceremony.

LaChanze made her Broadway principal debut as Ti Moune in the 1990 original production of Once On This Island, receiving a Tony nomination for her performance. She would win an acting Tony for her Celie in The Color Purple in 2006, and two more as a producer of Best Revival of a Play winner Topdog/Underdog and Best Musical winner Kimberly Akimbo. As an actor, she's also appeared in Company, Ragtime, If/Then, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, A Christmas Carol, and Trouble in Mind. She has also served on the producer teams of Here Lies Love and Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.

Also set to address Pace commencement ceremonies this year is Rowan D. Wilson, chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. Former DC Comics President Paul Levitz and Mount Sinai Hospital President David L. Reich are also being recognized. The school will also award the Opportunitas in Action Award to Angella and Danroy Henry.

“This remarkable group of honorees speaks to the many accomplishments and wide-ranging interests of the Class of 2024 and the Pace University community,” says Pace President Marvin Krislov in a statement. “I’m pleased that we will once again be celebrating all of our graduates together in one in-person celebration, and I’m even happier that we’ll have such an impressive group of role models to help us mark this momentous occasion.”