George Stephanopoulos got lots of love from his Good Morning America family after receiving a major off-screen honor.
Stephanopoulos introduced Lara Spencer for the show’s daily “Pop News” segment on Thursday, May 21. “We’re gonna begin with… you!” she said to her colleague. “Graduation season is in full swing, and we have to give a huge shout-out to our very own Dr. George, Dr. George Stephanopoulos. George received an honorary doctor of laws degree from his alma mater, Columbia University.”
The GMA hosts reacted to the news with applause for Stephanopoulos. “George was celebrated alongside the class of 2026 for his incredible career in politics, broadcasting, as well as being a best-selling author,” Spencer considered.
She went on to show a throwback photo of Stephanopoulos from his college graduation. The news anchor graduated from the Ivy League school in 1982 with a degree in political science. In the snap, a young Stephanopoulos smiled for the camera while holding up his degree.
“That is a great head of hair, and you still have it today,” Spencer stated. “Congrats. That’s really terrific.” Stephanopoulos accepted more applause from the GMA cast and thanked them for their support.
GMA fans sent Stephanopoulos their own congratulations via social media. “Congratulations, George! Well-deserved and long overdue,” one user commented underneath a clip of the “Pop News” segment on GMA‘s Instagram. Another added, “He has always been the cutest!! Always will be! Congratulations!”
Someone else shared, “Congratulations Dr George.” A different person posted, “Congratulations George! Well deserved honor!” A separate commenter stated, “Awesome!! Huge Congrats George!”
Stephanopoulos followed up his education at Columbia University by earning a master’s degree in theology from the University of Oxford. After working in politics in Washington, D.C., Stephanopoulos joined ABC News in 1997 as a political analyst for This Week. He has served as a co-anchor on GMA since 2009, and currently holds the record for the longest-running morning show hosting duo with Robin Roberts.
Stephanopoulos was one of several honorees at Columbia’s 2026 graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, including Jon Batiste, Michael L. Lomax, Michael Novak, Amanda Peet, and Harriet Zuckerman.
Stephanopoulos’ wife, Ali Wentworth, shared photos of him with Peet from the graduation via Instagram on Thursday, writing, “So proud of George and #amandapeete.” One fan wrote underneath the post, “Congratulations @gstephanopoulos!! Well deserved!!” Another person posted, “Congratulations George, one of my favorite people.”
Someone else wrote, “Bravo George! Congratulations!” A different commenter said, “Congratulations to one of my favorite morning host on GMA! The best team ever. What a way to go George receiving your JD!” A separate person noted, “Congratulations George, what an inspiration you are upward and onward.”
Good Morning America, Weekdays, 7am, ABC
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