Sen. Debbie Stabenow, an MSU alumna, will return to her alma mater in December as one of three speakers to address graduates at this semester's commencement ceremonies.

Stabenow will be joined by Lewis Coleman, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and Bernard Kerik, who served as Iraq's interim minister of interior.

The ceremonies will be held Dec. 5, and Dec. 6, at Breslin Center.

The speakers have national and international renown, MSU Provost Lou Anna Simon said.

"They are people who can give important messages to our students and people who are committed to changing the world in the spirit of a land-grant university," Simon said.

Stabenow will speak at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 to the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Education, Human Ecology and Social Science, and the James Madison College and the Eli Broad College of Business.

Stabenow, who has supported MSU in several research-based initiatives, including food-safety research, also will receive an honorary doctorate in law.

Kerik is a former New York City police commissioner and principal member of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's cabinet who dealt with the rescue, recovery and investigation of the World Trade Center attack. He also recently served as administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority for Iraq.

Kerik will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony on Saturday to students graduating from the Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Communication Arts and Sciences, Natural Science and Nursing and will receive an honorary doctorate in the humanities.

Lewis Coleman will speak at the 7 p.m. advanced-degree ceremony on Dec. 5.

Coleman, who has been active in the banking industry and international finance for 37 years, will receive an honorary doctorate in business.