Henri Lenferink Named Webster University Honorary Degree Recipient and Commencement Speaker for the Webster Leiden Campus

Henri Lenferink, Mayor of the city of Leiden, has been named Webster University’s honorary degree recipient and commencement speaker for the Webster Leiden Campus Commencement, to be held May 20, 2023.

Lenferink has served as mayor of the City of Leiden for 20 years, earning praise from humanitarians around the world for his policies that welcomed immigrants to the historic city. 

“As Mayor, he has stated many times in public that the city of Leiden must do its utmost to live up to its reputation of being a city of tolerance and a city of refugees,” said Jean Paul van Marissing, director of Webster’s Leiden campus. “His determination to serve the underprivileged and displaced has had a significant impact on the larger community and improved the lives of many refugees. He is an example of what it means to be a global citizen and an inspiration to our students and humanitarians everywhere.”

Educated as a historian, Lenferink often refers to the Pilgrim Fathers as refugees who were seeking the freedom of religion in Leiden. Each year the Webster Leiden Campus holds its Graduation Ceremony at the historic St. Pieter’s church where the Pilgrim Fathers came together for so many years.

Lenferink, in his role as mayor, was among the first to open the doors of the city of Leiden for refugees. For example, when millions of Syrians were displaced and became refugees at the start of the Syrian war in 2015, he insisted that Leiden would provide housing and support.

Most recently, Lenferink was one of the first in the Netherlands to welcome refugees from Ukraine and Russia. Webster Leiden Campus and the mayor’s office worked together to make Webster’s dorms in Leiden available for students who lost all their possessions resulting from this humanitarian crisis. At the very beginning of this humanitarian crisis, Lenferink addressed more than 150 refugees in a town hall meeting, repeating that under his leadership the city of Leiden will always remain a city of refugees.

“Lenferink’s actions and achievements as Mayor of the city of Leiden over a period of two decades are aligned with Webster University committment to meeting unmet needs and creating the path to greater equity and inclusion,” said Webster University Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. “The Mayor’s unequivocal and long-lasting support for refugees is consistent with the mission and vision of Webster University to serve those who are underserved.” 

“Henri Lenferink’s humanitarian deeds as a mayor clearly exceed what one might expect from someone holding that office,” Marissing said. “His personal conviction and his self-chosen determination to serve the underprivileged and displaced has had a significant impact on the larger community and improved the lives of many refugees. By honoring Mr. Lenferink for his achievements and conferring upon him the Honorary Degree of Humanities, Webster University recognizes, celebrates and honors an individual who made it his life’s work to meet the unmet needs which is essential to the mission and vision of Webster University as a global institution.

About Webster University

With its main campus in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Webster University (www.webster.edu) comprises an action-oriented global network of faculty, staff, students and alumni who forge powerful bonds with each other and with their communities around the globe. Founded in 1915, Webster is an independent nonprofit university with students studying at campus locations in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa and in a robust learning environment online. The University is committed to ensuring high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.