Oakland University will recognize its spring 2018 graduates at five commencement ceremonies, which will all take place in the O’rena, on OU’s campus.
Graduate students
The commencement ceremony for all doctoral and master's degree candidates will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 26.
Commencement speaker: Kenneth Mick, Senior Director of Engineering at General Dynamics Land Systems
Alumni speaker: Taylor VanDyke, SECS ’15 and SBA ‘17
Undergraduate Students
Commencement ceremonies for undergraduates will be held Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28.
April 27 ceremonies:
10 a.m. – College of Arts and Sciences (Ceremony #1)
Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work & Criminal Justice, Psychology, Political Science, International Studies, Music, Theatre & Dance, Art & Art History, Modern Languages & Literature, Philosophy, Writing and Rhetoric, Religious Studies, and Women & Gender Studies
Commencement speaker: Lily Talevski, Graduating Senior, Meritorious Achievement Award Recipient for the College of Arts and Sciences
Alumni speaker: Dana Parke, CAS ‘13
3 p.m. – College of Arts and Sciences (Ceremony #2)
Communications & Journalism, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, English, History, Liberal Studies, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics, Linguistics and others not directly assigned
Commencement speaker: Linzi Hobbs, Graduating Senior, Meritorious Achievement Award Recipient for the College of Arts and Sciences
Alumni speaker: Samir Hanna, CAS ‘09
April 28 ceremonies:
9 a.m. – School of Business Administration, School of Engineering and Computer Science, and Bachelor of Integrative Studies
Commencement Speaker: Ray Gunn, President of Schechter Wealth
Alumni speaker: Rob Ray, SBA ‘05
2 p.m. – School of Education and Human Services, School of Nursing, and School of Health Sciences
Commencement speaker: Angela Braly, Business Leader and Honorary Degree Recipient
Alumni speaker: Jeff Cook, SHS ‘11
Before and during the ceremonies
The O’rena doors will open one hour before each ceremony. All guests must have tickets and should be seated 10 minutes prior to the processional. Each ceremony lasts approximately one and a half to two hours. Graduates are asked to stay for the entire ceremony and will be directed by a marshal to exit the O’rena.
Family and friends who are unable to attend the commencement will be able to view the ceremonies on the commencement website as they occur. A link will be posted to the page on graduation day. Videos of the ceremonies will also be available to view on the commencement website after the ceremony.
Watch the virtual rehearsal for more information.
Don’t have tickets?
Guests who don’t have tickets to commencement will be able to view the ceremony live on campus via closed circuit television in the Oakland Center Gold Rooms.
Parking
Parking is free and open to the public, except where indicated. Police officers and parking attendants will be on hand to direct traffic. All event parking is located within a 5-minute walk to the O'rena. For a map of campus, visit oakland.edu/map.
In case of inclement weather, information on cancellation of ceremonies is available by calling the university at (248) 370-2000, tuning in to WJR or WWJ radio, or watching FOX2, WDIV-TV or WXYZ-TV.
Live traffic and event updates will be posted to the Oakland University Police Department Twitter @OUPD.
An American Sign Language interpreter will be present at each ceremony to aid the hearing impaired. Wheelchair accessible seating is available for guests and a handicap accessible parking lot is located next to the O’rena in P16.
For additional commencement information, call (248) 370-2190 or view the commencement website at www.oakland.edu/commencement. Watch a live stream during the ceremonies at www.oakland.edu/outv/live-streams/commencement.
Photo contest
Share photos of your personalized commencement attire for a chance to be featured on OU's social media and to win a swag bag sponsored by the Oakland University Alumni Association. Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Visit oakland.edu/social/contests/ for more information.
Honorary degree recipients
Angela Braly
Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa
Angela Braly is a recognized leader in business, serving on the board of directors of Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., ExxonMobil, Lowe’s, Procter & Gamble and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. She formerly served as the Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of WellPoint, Inc., now called Anthem. During Braly’s tenure, WellPoint achieved more than $60 billion in revenue and was the nation’s largest health insurer by membership. She has been named many times – once as high as fourth – to lists of most powerful women in both Forbes and Fortune. She is also listed as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare and one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare.
In addition, Braly is passionate about giving back in ways that will have a lasting and positive impact. She is a co-founder of The Policy CircleTM, a grassroots network starting conversations across the country to educate, engage and empower women to be a force for positive change in their communities.
David T. Fischer
Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa
David T. Fischer is a businessman and humanitarian who has given a lifetime of service to Greater Detroit, Oakland University and the American auto industry. Fischer grew up in Detroit and entered the family business, Suburban Oldsmobile, in 1967. He is now Chairman and CEO of the Suburban Collection, the largest privately held automotive group in Michigan and the 15th-largest in the United States.
Fischer is dedicated to education and has supported Oakland University, the College for Creative Studies and the University of Michigan. He is a Trustee Emeritus of Oakland University, having served two terms, from 1992-2008. While a member of the Board of Trustees, he supported a number of projects that changed the course of the university. These include the Campus Recreation Center, Pawley Hall, the Math and Science Center, an addition to Vandenberg Hall, and the expansion of the Oakland Center. He was also involved in the university’s move to Division I athletics and the establishment of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.
Robert Blake Theodore “Ted” Lindsay
Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa
Ted Lindsay is a philanthropist and former professional hockey player. Born in 1925 in Renfro, Ontario, Lindsay came to Detroit in 1944 to play for the Detroit Red Wings, for whom he played until 1957. He was part of the “Production Line” with Gordie Howe and Sid Abel, and over his career, won four Stanley Cup and was a nine-time All-Star. Following his playing career, he worked as a television analyst and eventually returned to the Red Wings as General Manager.
In 2001, he created the Ted Lindsay Foundation, which has raised more than $3 million for local and regional organizations that provide support for those with autism. The Foundation partnered with Beaumont to create the space for the Lindsay Foundation Hope Center. The mission is to create research and educational programs focusing on the cause and management of Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Foundation works to raise funds for new and existing research projects, training programs, educational programs and social services for children with autism.