Dominican Republic's oldest university approves honorary doctorate for Silvio Rodríguez

October 30, 2026

The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), the Dominican Republic's flagship public university, has approved awarding an honorary doctorate to Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez. The honor was approved by a resolution of the university's governing Claustro Menor, the Cuban news agencies Prensa Latina and ACN reported on Thursday, October 29, in reports also carried by Dominican outlets Diario Libre and Canal 6.

Word of the decision came as UASD, which bills itself as the oldest university in the Americas, launched events on Wednesday, October 28, marking the 488th anniversary of its founding, at a ceremony led by rector Jorge Asjana David alongside members of the University Council, faculty, staff and former officials. Cuba's embassy in the Dominican Republic shared the news on its social media accounts.

For now, the honor has only been approved. The university has not announced when the investiture will take place, and it is not yet known whether Rodríguez will travel to Santo Domingo to accept it in person. It is not his first honorary degree: in June 2023 the University of Havana awarded him an honorary doctorate in Social Sciences and Humanities.

Born on November 29, 1946, in San Antonio de los Baños, in today's Artemisa province, Rodríguez is a founding figure of Cuba's Nueva Trova movement and the writer of songs such as "Ojalá," "Unicornio," "La maza" and "Te doy una canción." The recognition comes a month before his 80th birthday.