Michael Hoge, PhD, professor of psychiatry and director of Yale Behavioral Health, received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from William James College (WJC) at its June 14, 2026 Commencement in recognition of his lifetime contributions to behavioral health workforce development.
This degree is awarded by academic institutions to individuals who have made major contributions to society. Hoge was recognized by the Board of Trustees of WJC for his efforts, over three decades, to bring national attention to the need to strengthen the mental health and substance use workforce as a means of ensuring access for the public to effective care.
The citation for this award noted his role as a founding member and Senior Science and Policy Advisor of the Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce. He used that platform and his Yale faculty role to generate a body of scholarship on workforce development; assess and document workforce needs; identify and disseminate innovations in education, recruitment, and retention; develop for the federal government a National Action Plan on Behavioral Health Workforce Development; and advise the President’s New Freedom Commission, Institute of Medicine, and federal and state agencies on workforce best practices.
College President Dr. Nicholas Covino noted in his presentation of the award that Hoge has called on educators and professional societies in this field to be more relevant and effective in their workforce development efforts. He has also challenged policymakers, government administrators, employers, and insurers to address their chronic underinvestment in behavioral health, which has hampered the stability and effectiveness of its workforce.
Located in Greater Boston, William James College is a nonprofit, progressive educational institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in clinical, school, and organizational psychology, and applied behavioral analysis.
At Yale, Hoge has held numerous leadership positions at the Connecticut Mental Health Center and served as the director of the department’s Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Community Psychology. He founded and currently directs Yale Behavioral Health, which offers clinical, crisis, therapeutic education, and juvenile justice mental health services.