Katharine Jefferts Schori
Dr. Jefferts Schori was the XXVI presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church from 2006 to 2015 and has served as the chief pastor to The Episcopal Church’s members in 17 nations. She is known for her extraordinary achievements as the Head of the Episcopal Church by pushing boundaries around social justice and bridging her scientific expertise with her religious leadership.
As Presiding Bishop, she worked closely with U.S. and international ecumenical and interreligious leaders. She served on President Obama’s Council on Neighborhood and Faith-Based Partnerships, and on the Division of Earth and Life Studies board of the National Academy of Sciences. She is a vocal supporter for climate change action and taking care of the earth.
Previously, Dr. Jefferts Schori served as Bishop of Nevada, and earlier was a university lecturer, priest, and hospice chaplain in Oregon. She was visiting professor at two Episcopal seminaries in 2016, the interim bishop in the Diocese of San Diego from 2017 to 2019, an assisting bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles from 2023 to 2025, and the interim bishop in the Diocese of Wyoming from 2024 to 2025.
Dr. Jefferts Schori has been transformational in women’s roles in religious ministry. She was the first woman to lead The Episcopal Church in the United States and beyond as the first female primate in the worldwide Anglican Communion. Her interdisciplinary collaborations have addressed pressing humanitarian issues, including advocating for LGBTQ+ communities, marriage equality, and broad access to reproductive healthcare. Dr. Jefferts Schori continues to be vocal about mission priorities, including the United Nations Development Goals, domestic poverty, climate change and care of the earth, and international issues of peace and justice.
Dr. Jefferts Schori began her career as an oceanographer. Her research focused on cephalopods including systematics, fisheries, and evolutionary theory. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Jefferts Schori worked as an oceanographer for the National Marine Fisheries Service. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stanford University and earned a master’s degree and PhD in oceanography from Oregon State University.
Dr. Jefferts Schori’s dedication to bridging science and religion, together with her commitment to social justice, is extraordinary. Oregon State University is honored to present Dr. Jefferts Schori with an Honorary Doctorate at the university’s 157th commencement ceremony.