Fordham to Bestow Honorary Degree on PMC Vice Chairman Gerry Byrne

Gerry Byrne, vice chairman of Variety parent company PMC and a longtime media business executive, will be recognized by his alma mater, New York’s Fordham University, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the school’s commencement ceremony on May 16.

Byrne will receive the honorary degree alongside Maureen Corrigan, book critic for NPR’s “Fresh Air,” and “Today” veteran Hoda Kotb, who is also this year’s commencement speaker.

Byrne graduated from Fordham Preparatory School in 1962. He graduated from Fordham College in 1966. He earned his commission as a U.S. Marine officer through a Marine Corps training program while attending Fordham. He received the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V for his service in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. Byrne’s many other career kudos include the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award. Byrne was honored with the Navy’s highest civilian award last year as a commendation for his longstanding support for veterans and his work with numerous nonprofits.

Fordham called Byrne “an entrepreneur, trailblazing media executive and advocate for military veterans” in announcing the honorary degree.

Byrne’s long career in media and publishing includes serving as the first publisher of Crain’s New York Business, and working as a senior executive at producer Norman Lear’s ACT III Communications. During his long run as publisher of Variety, Byrne steered its transformation into a diversified global brand.

Corrigan earned her undergraduate degree in English from Fordhamin 1977 before going on to complete master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. At present she is the Nicky and Jamie Grant Distinguished Professor of the Practice in Literary Criticism at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.