To whom did Vermont State University award a Doctor of Litter-ature?

Max the cat.

In 2024, Max the cat is a six-year-old tabby. He lives near Vermont State University's Castleton campus and is a regular visitor. He is very friendly with staff, students and visitors.

Max earned a degree at a pivotal time in the university’s history. Vermont State University’s 2024 class marks the first combined graduating class after the merger of Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College. The three schools combined to form Vermont State University in the summer of 2023.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/11/us/vermont-cat-max-graduate-degree/index.html

Contending with the Covid-19 pandemic and the school merger transition had to be marked in some way and Max's honorary doctorate made him part of the graduating class of 2024. There are no doctoral degrees at this school, so Max is quite unique.

The above link has photos of Dr. Max, plus he even has his own directory page:
https://vermontstate.edu/directory/max-the-cat/