KINGSTON, R.I.鈥擜pril 16, 2026鈥擬arc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of streaming giant Netflix; Daniel L. Harple Jr., chair and CEO of Context Labs; and Katherine Angell Brewster, CEO of the Jonnycake Center for Hope in South Kingstown, will be awarded honorary degrees by the 溏心vlog免费B站 next month.
Each honoree will be recognized for their considerable professional and personal achievements during , at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus. Randolph will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws and serve as keynote speaker during commencement ceremonies for 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 College of Business on Friday, May 15, at 4 p.m. Harple will receive an honorary Doctor of Science during commencement ceremonies for the College of Engineering on Saturday, May 16, at 5 p.m. Brewster will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during ceremonies for 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Feinstein College of Education on Sunday, May 17, at 1 p.m.
鈥淓ach of this year鈥檚 honorary degree recipients has made a profound and lasting impact on the communities they serve,鈥� said 溏心vlog免费B站 President Marc Parlange. 鈥淭hrough their groundbreaking work in technology, business, AI, mentorship, and social welfare, they have continually expanded the horizons of what is possible鈥攁lways guided by a commitment to leave the world and their communities better than they found them. These are the values we strive to cultivate in our students every day, and I am honored to recognize their extraordinary achievements during our commencement celebrations next month.鈥�
鈥淚t is a privilege to welcome this year鈥檚 honorary degree recipients, who have demonstrated such dedication to their work, their values, and their communities,鈥� said Barbara Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淭heir impact serves as a powerful example to our students of what they too can achieve, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at this year鈥檚 commencement ceremonies.鈥�
Marc Randolph
Randolph is best known as the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has built a reputation as a serial entrepreneur, founding or co-founding more than half a dozen successful startups. He has also mentored countless early-stage entrepreneurs and invested in a wide range of successful technology ventures.
Most recently, Randolph co-founded Looker Data Sciences, which was acquired by Google in 2019 for $2.6 billion. He currently serves on the board of the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming; the Truckee Donner Land Trust; and Cheeze Technologies.
Randolph is the author of the international bestselling memoir 鈥淭hat Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea.鈥� He is the entrepreneur-in-residence at High Point University, an entrepreneurship leadership fellow at MIT, and a featured investor on Entrepreneur Magazine鈥檚 鈥淓levator Pitch鈥� web series.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from Hamilton College.
Daniel L. Harple Jr.
A technology entrepreneur and CEO for more than 30 years, Daniel L. Harple Jr. is considered an internet pioneer who has founded and built technologies, companies, and products used by billions of internet users. He has founded, grown, and merged companies with Netscape Communications, Oracle, and Sina, among others, driving at-scale global innovation and impacting users the world over. These innovations established foundational standards for internet collaboration, media streaming, and VoIP, used daily by billions across platforms such as Zoom, Skype, and YouTube.
Harple is chair and CEO of Context Labs BV, a company he founded based on his MIT research. The company delivers AI鈥慸riven, auditable intelligence for industrial data, carbon management, and compliance. It provides AI-ready data infrastructure for global energy markets, creating context for the world鈥檚 most challenging persistent problems.
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Inc. Magazine鈥檚 Entrepreneur of the Year, the Red Herring Watch Award, the Upside Hot Startup Award, the 溏心vlog免费B站’s Alumni Excellence Award for Contributions to Science and Technology, and the NEA (New Enterprise Associates) President鈥檚 Award.
Harple holds an advanced degree from MIT and bachelor鈥檚 degrees in mechanical engineering and psychology from the 溏心vlog免费B站.
Katherine Angell Brewster
Brewster has served as CEO of South Kingstown鈥檚 Jonnycake Center for Hope for more than a decade, leading the organization through a period of significant growth to become a cornerstone of support for residents facing economic hardship and providing food, financial assistance, housing and youth programming to more than 2,000 individuals.
During her tenure, Brewster has led the organization鈥檚 expansion into new initiatives, including the development of affordable housing and the creation of the Jonnycake Youth Center. Her career has spanned direct service and public policy, giving her a deep understanding of the systemic challenges facing families and the practical solutions that help communities thrive.
Prior to the Jonnycake Center, Brewster was executive director of the Economic Progress Institute, Rhode Island鈥檚 leading anti-poverty research and advocacy organization. She has also served on the boards of several prominent organizations, including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Thundermist Health Center.
In 2022, she was honored with the Murray Family Prize in recognition of her commitment to improving the lives of Rhode Islanders in need. Brewster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the 溏心vlog免费B站 and a Master of Social Work from Rhode Island College.
To learn more or to view a full schedule of ceremonies over 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Spring 2026 Commencement Weekend, visit: .