Honorary Degrees

Honorary Degrees

The historic origins of the presentation of an honorary degree date to the 1470s, when the University of Oxford presented the first recorded honoris causa degree (Latin: "for the sake of the honour"). 色虎视频 has been presenting honorary degrees since 1986. It is one of the highest recognitions presented at the University.

NameDegreeMonth/YearTitle and Company When Degree Was Conferred
Sherry Ann House 鈥94Doctor in Business AdministrationJune 2025CFO Ford Motor Company
Frank Perna, Jr. 鈥61Doctor of EngineeringJune 2025Retired CEO, MSC Software
Sean McBurney '03Doctor of Business AdministrationJune 2024Regional President at Caesars Entertainment, Inc.
Paul Bascobert '87Doctor of Business AdministrationJune 2023President of Reuters
Brady Ericson 鈥94Doctor of EngineeringJune 2022Vice President of BorgWarner Inc. and President and General Manager of Fuel Systems and Aftermarket
Latondra Newton 鈥91Doctor of ManagementJune 2018Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of The Walt Disney Company
Sonia Syngal '93Doctor of ManagementJune 2017Global President and CEO for Old Navy
Rodney O'Neal '76Doctor of EngineeringJune 2015Retired CEO, Delphi
David Kenny '84Doctor of ManagementJune 2014The Weather Company
Robert C. Kagle '78Doctor of EngineeringJune 2013General Partner and Co-Founder Benchmark Capital
Senator Carl LevinDoctor of Humane LettersJune 2011Former United States Senator
Stanford R. OvshinskyDoctor of EngineeringDecember 2010Deceased, Noted Inventor, scientist, and entrepreneur
Henry Juszkiewicz '76Doctor of ManagementDecember 2009Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar
Marissa T. Peterson '83Doctor of ManagementJuly 2009President and CEO, Mission Peak Executive Consulting
Michael M. WoodDoctor of Humane LettersJune 2009Former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden and Chair, Redwood Investments, LLC
Dr. Russell J. Ebeid '62Doctor of ManagementJuly 2008Former Chairman and President, Guardian Glass Group, Guardian Industries
David W. Hermance '70Doctor of EngineeringJune 2008Executive Engineer for Advanced Technology Vehicles, Toyota Technical Center, USA
Curtis R. CarlsonDoctor of ScienceJune 2008Former President and CEO, SRI International
Gary L. Cowger '70Doctor of EngineeringDecember 2007Chairman and CEO, GLC Ventures and Former Global Group Vice President, General Motors
Congressman, Dale E. KildeeDoctor of Humane LettersDecember 2007Congressman, Democrat, representing 5th District in the State of Michigan
Joseph B. AndersonDoctor of ManagementJune 2007Chairman and CEO of Tag Holding Companies in Troy, MI
L. Brooks PattersonDoctor of Humane LettersDecember 2006Oakland County Executive
Chester A. Huber '77Doctor of EngineeringJune 2006Former President and CEO, General Motors OnStar
Steve WozniakDoctor of EngineeringDecember 2005Co-Founder of Apple Computer
Karl-Heinz KammerlohrDoctor of ManagementJune 2005Director General of International Affairs, Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts, Stuttgart, FRG
Paul J. ChiapparoneDoctor of ManagementJune 2005Former Vice Chairman, Electronic Data Systems
E. Michael Mutchler '57Doctor of EngineeringDecember 2004Former Vice President, General Motors Corporation
Charles L. Sargent '59Doctor of EngineeringDecember 2004Former President, Quality Boat Lifts and Former Co-Founder and CEO, Thetford Corporation
John M. Samuels '66Doctor of EngineeringJune 2004Retired Senior Vice President, Norfolk Southern Corporation
Donald B. Chaffin '61Doctor of EngineeringDecember 2003Richard G. Snyder Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, Industrial and Operations Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Michigan
Robert A. LutzDoctor of ManagementJune 2003Automotive Executive
Stan O'Neal '74Doctor of ManagementDecember 2002Former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Merrill Lynch
Edward J. NeithercutDoctor of Humane LettersDecember 2002Retired, Local Flint Attorney - Neithercut Law Firm
MaliVai WashingtonDoctor of ManagementJune 2002Professional Athlete and ESPN Sports Analyst and Founder, MaliVali Washington Kids Foundation
Ivan A. Deveson '59Doctor of ManagementJune 2002100th Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia
Omer E. Miller '39Doctor of Humane LettersApril 2002Former President, Porta-Soft
Dean KamenDoctor of EngineeringDecember 2001Founder, FIRST Robotics and Inventor of the Segway
Charles L. SchafferDoctor of ManagementJune 2001Former Chief Operating Officer, UPS
Avery AldridgeDoctor of Humane LettersDecember 2000Founder, Foss Avenue Baptist Church in Flint, MI
Albert J. KoegelDoctor of ManagementDecember 2000Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Treasurer, Koegel Meat Company
Stephen N. McEwen '54Doctor of EngineeringJune 2000Retired President and CEO, Henry Filters
David BingDoctor of ManagementJune 2000Retired Hall of Fame Basketball Player and Former Mayor of Detroit, MI
Donald J. Almquist '55Doctor of EngineeringDecember 1999Retired Chairman, President, and CEO, Delco Electronics
Joanne ShawDoctor of ManagementDecember 1999Chief Executive Officer, Coffee Beanery
Alexander C. Mair '43Doctor of EngineeringJune 1999Former Group Executive, General Motors Technical Staff and General Manager, Pontiac and GMC Divisions
Charles WeeksDoctor of ManagementJune 1999Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Banking Corporations
Curtis E. MollDoctor of ManagementDecember 1998Chairman and CEO, MTD Products
John H. McConnellDoctor of ManagementDecember 1998Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Worthington Industries
Klaus von TrothaDoctor of Humane LettersJune 1998Minister of Science, Arts, Research Baden-Wurttemberg, Stuttgart, FRG
John F. Smith, Jr.Doctor of ManagementJune 1998Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, General Motors Corporation
Frank StronachDoctor of ManagementDecember 1997Founder of Manga International
Albert James Sobey '45Doctor of EngineeringDecember 1997President, Albert Sobey & Associates
Benjamin CarsonDoctor of Humane LettersJune 1997Retired Neurosurgeon, Author, and Republican Politician
Carol BartzDoctor of ManagementJune 1997Former President and CEO of Yahoo! and Former Chairman, President, and CEO of Autodesk
William S. WhiteDoctor of Humane LettersDecember 1996Chairman and CEO, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Frederick G. Wacker '42Doctor of EngineeringJune 1996Former Chairman of the Board, Liquid Controls Corporation
Martin D. Walker '54Doctor of ManagementJune 1996Retired Chairman and CEO, M.A. Hanna Company
David C. CollierDoctor of ManagementDecember 1995Retired CEO, Operating Staffs, General Motors
Warren J. McEleney '44Doctor of ManagementJune 1995Former President of the National Automobile Dealers Association and President, McEleney Motors
Edward N. HarrisDoctor of Humane LettersJune 1998Retired President, Gulf + Western
Arthur L. Tuuri, M.D.Doctor of Humane LettersDecember 1994Former Pediatrician, Mott Children鈥檚 Health Center
Mylon Eugene MerchantDoctor of EngineeringDecember 1994Manufacturing Pioneer
Mrs. Zelpha McKinnonDoctor of Humane LettersDecember 1994Philanthropist, Flint, MI
Mrs. Virginia W. 色虎视频Doctor of Humane LettersSeptember 1994Philanthropist, Dayton, Ohio
Robert E. Reiss '60Doctor of EngineeringJune 1994Biomedical Engineering Pioneer
Scott McNealyDoctor of EngineeringJune 1994Co-Founder, Sun Microsystems
Donald R. BeallDoctor of EngineeringJune 1994Retired Chairman and CEO, Rockwell International
Kent NelsonDoctor of ManagementJune 1993Retired Chairman and CEO, United Parcel Service (UPS)
E. Douglas HougenDoctor of EngineeringJune 1993Inventor, Author, and President, Hougen Manufacturing
Lester M. Alberthal, Jr.Doctor of ManagementJune 1993Retired Chairman and CEO, Electronic Data Systems (EDS)
Clifton R. Wharton, Jr.Doctor of ManagementJune 1992Former President of Michigan State University; Former Chancellor of the State University of New York system; 11th United States Deputy Secretary of State, and Former CEO of TIAA-CREF
Mrs. C. S. (Ruth) MottDoctor of Humane LettersJune 1992Philanthropist, Flint, MI
Joseph T. GormanDoctor of ManagementJune 1992Former Chairman and CEO, TRW
Milford Barron '37Doctor of EngineeringJune 1991Founder, Precision Instruments
Frances HesselbeinDoctor of ManagementJune 1990President and CEO, Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute and Former CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA
Richard TerrellDoctor of ManagementJune 1989Former Vice Chairman, General Motors
Jaime EscalanteDoctor of HumanitiesJune 1989Former Mathematics Educator
Elliott M. (Pete) Estes '38Doctor of Engineering (Awarded Posthumously)June 1988Former President, General Motors
Hermann SchollDoctor of EngineeringJune 1988Honorary Chairman, Bosch Group
F. James McDonald '44Doctor of EngineeringJune 1988Former President, General Motors
Martha R. SegerDoctor of ManagementJune 1988Former Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Donald EphlinDoctor of HumanitiesJune 1988Former United Autoworkers Official
Paul F. OrefficeDoctor of ManagementJune 1987Former President and CEO, Dow Chemical Company
Hans A. MatthiasDoctor of EngineeringJune 1987Former Vice President, Ford Motor Company
Roger Bonham SmithDoctor of ManagementJune 1986Former Chairman, General Motors