Miami University has awarded an honorary doctorate degree to one of the Farmer School of Business’ most ardent supporters. Dinesh Paliwal, CEO and president of HARMAN International, came to Oxford from India in 1981. After earning a masters degree in computational science and engineering, he went on to earn his MBA. He spent 22 years with the ABB Group before taking the helm at HARMAN in 2007.

Paliwal serves on the Farmer School Board of Visitors and provided the keynote address at the 2017 Divisional Recognition Ceremony. He and his wife Ila created and funded an Innovation Chair at the Farmer School, as well as a scholarship fund for international students.

Before the degree ceremony, Paliwal had lunch with Farmer School students, sat in on a presentation from Dinesh & Ila Paliwal Innovation Chair Dr. Arthur Carvalho’s blockchain class students, and toured the College of Engineering and Computing.

“I'm just in awe, soaking it in, that excitement. I give speeches all the time as a CEO and I can deal with all kinds of media interviews, but this is special. My heart was beating harder,” Paliwal said after receiving his hood and doctor of laws diploma from Miami University President Gregory P. Crawford and Provost Phyllis Callahan. “I'm proud of the programs we have established to open opportunities for the next generation, and I'm extremely humbled and pleased and very blessed to be chosen by the university trustees.”

“This will remain in my life with me and my memory for the longest time. And I still feel totally indebted to Miami University,” Paliwal said. “I have a lot to do, and I will learn from you, and my wife and I would want to play a bigger role going forward.”

Check out more images from Paliwal's visit here