Jamaican sprint legend and Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell Brown will receive a honourary degree from her alma mater the University of Arkansas during the school’s all-university commencement ceremony in May.

The announcement was made by the University yesterday (April 24) in a press release that said the ceremony would take place on Saturday, May 13, in Bud Walton Arena. 

Campbell Brown previously graduated from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in 2006 with a degree in business administration.

During her time at the university, she won gold in the 200-metre sprint at the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships, setting a new collegiate record. She became a professional athlete the next year while continuing her classwork as a marketing major at the University.

Shorty after her retirement from professional track and field in 2021, she was inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

The release further highlighted the various achievements of the 40-year-old athlete, which were inclusive of her three gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze at the Olympic games.

The University further praised Campbell- Brown for her work as an an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, philanthropist, devoted mother of two, and former UNESCO ambassador.

“As a UNESCO Champion for Sport Ambassador, she uses her title to actively promote gender mainstreaming for women. She has also published two inspirational books on achieving fulfillment,” the school stated in its release.

The retired athlete also launched VCB FIT, an online activewear brand with a vision of providing women with functional products and inspiring them to maintain healthy and active lifestyles.