Three national leaders in health, economics and national security will be addressing this semester's graduating class.
Chief medical adviser to the president Dr. Anthony Fauci will be delivering the address to MSU doctoral graduates. Master’s and educational specialist degree recipients will be addressed by Jill Hruby, the undersecretary for nuclear security for the U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration administrator. MSU faculty member Lisa D. Cook, who serves on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, will address undergraduate degree recipients.
Graduation ceremonies are set to begin on May 4 and conclude on May 13, taking place at the Breslin Center as well as the Wharton Center. The ceremonies will also be live streamed on MSU’s commencement website for those who cannot attend or wish to watch remotely.
All three speakers will be awarded honorary degrees for work done in their respective fields.
“In awarding honorary degrees, these notable leaders join the class of 2023 as beacons of excellence in our Spartans futures,” MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said in a press release. “Their stories from their college careers and early commitment to creating a better tomorrow will resonate and inspire graduating Spartans as they take this next step in their journey to change Michigan and the world.”
Hruby, who will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science, will address master’s and educational specialist degree recipients at 9 a.m. on May 5. Her background in engineering and science helped develop technologies to further the nation’s nuclear security. Her honorary degree recognizes her accomplishments not only in the field of national security but also as a mentor for women in engineering.
Cook will address undergraduate degree recipients at 1 p.m. on May 5. She is previously a senior economist on the Council of Economic Advisors under former President Barack Obama. She is also notably the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve.
Cook is also a professor of economics and international relations at Michigan State, though temporarily on leave while she serves on the Federal Reserve. Cook will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities for her lifelong commitment to providing financial stability knowledge and action to the field of economics.
Fauci will address doctoral students at 3:30 p.m. on May 5. His lifetime of work in the field of public health, most notably his research on HIV/AIDS during the global AIDS epidemic and his COVID-19 pandemic counseling, has brought him national recognition. He has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and has served for seven presidents and their administrations to make informed decisions about global health issues.
For his work as a leader in the medical field, Fauci will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities by MSU.
