Helen LaKelly Hunt, who holds three degrees from SMU, is a philanthropist dedicated to promoting women's equality and social change. She is the founder and president of The Sister Fund, which underwrites projects to empower women in social, political, economic and spiritual realms. As catalyst and head of the innovative Women Moving Millions campaign, she forges alliances with other women philanthropists who make gifts of a million dollars or more to fund large-scale women's causes. Hunt is internationally known for co-developing the Imago Relationship Therapy techniques for saving and enhancing close relationships. She helped establish several women's organizations, including the Women's Funding Network, Dallas Women's Foundation and New York Women's Foundation. She has received numerous awards for her leadership on women's issues and has been inducted into
the National Women's Hall of Fame. After receiving three degrees from SMU (a B.A. in econdary education, a Master of Liberal Arts and an M.A. in counseling), she earned a Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary. Her doctoral dissertation, the basis for her book Faith and Feminism: A Holy Alliance, focused on the religious foundations of American feminism. For her contributions to the empowerment of women and her leadership in the women's funding movement, Southern Methodist University is honored to confer upon alumna Helen LaKelly Hunt the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.