Ceremony schedule
All ceremonies will take place in the Wayne State University Fieldhouse. Ceremonies will last approximately 1 – 1 ½ hours.
Wednesday, April 30
Ceremony I — 9 a.m.
- Ph.D./Ed.D. Hooding All schools and colleges
Thursday, May 1
Ceremony II — 9 a.m.
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Sciences)
Degrees offered by the following departments and programs: Applied Mathematics, Astronomy, Audiology, Biological Sciences, Biological Science and Urban Sustainability, Biochemistry and Chemical Biology, Biomedical Physics, Chemistry, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Dietetics, Economics, Environmental Science, Geology, Law, Mathematical Economics, Mathematics, Mathematical Studies Statistics, Molecular Biotechnology, Neuroscience, Nutrition and Food Science, Physics, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health, Public Affairs, Speech Language Pathology, Statistics
Ceremony III — 1 p.m.
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Arts)
Degrees offered by the following departments and programs: African American Studies, Anthropology and Urban Sustainability, Asian Studies, Classics, Creative Writing, Employment and Labor Relations, English, Film Studies, Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, General Studies, German Studies, Global Studies, History, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Labor Studies, Language Learning, Linguistics, Modern Languages, Museum Practice, Near Eastern Language, Nonprofit Management, Peace and Conflict Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Practical German, Romance Language and Literature, Slavic Studies, Sociology, Urban Planning, Urban Studies
Ceremony IV - 5 p.m.
- Mike Ilitch School of Business
Friday, May 2
Ceremony V - 9 a.m.
- College of Nursing
- School of Social Work
Ceremony VI – 1 p.m
- College of Education
- College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
- School of Information Sciences
- School of Medicine (Master’s)
Ceremony VII - 5 p.m.
- James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering
- Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Student commencement speaker
Cordelia Krajewski
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Cordelia Krajewski, a proud native of Wyandotte, Michigan, and graduate of Roosevelt High School, is earning her bachelor of public affairs with an honors co-major and a minor in urban studies.
During her time at Wayne State, Krajewski has been a passionate advocate for student engagement and civic participation. She served as director of government affairs on the Student Senate, a resident advisor at Anthony Wayne Drive Apartments and a Democracy Fellow with the Campus Vote Project through the Fair Elections Center — roles that placed her at the heart of voter engagement efforts on campus.
Krajewski also gained invaluable public service experience through internships with the City of Detroit, the Executive Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the office of Sen. Mallory McMorrow. Her leadership and dedication have earned her numerous accolades, including selection to the 2024 Homecoming Court, recognition on the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s 2024 Student Voting Honor Roll, and the prestigious Finish Line Scholarship from the Irvin D. Reid Honors College. She was also named a 2023 Harvard Public Policy Leadership Conference Scholar.
Honorary Degrees
Dr. Larry Brilliant
For his many achievements, Wayne State University awards the Doctor of Science, honoris causa, to Dr. Larry Brilliant.
A native son of Detroit and a Wayne State alumnus, Larry Brilliant, M.D. ’69, has dedicated himself to a lifelong pursuit of public health. From serving as the unofficial physician for Native Americans occupying Alcatraz Island in 1969 to pursuing smallpox eradication with the U.N. World Health Organization in India, Dr. Brilliant has led a remarkable and varied career. He co-founded the Seva Foundation, whose programs have treated over 60 million people for blinding eye conditions and restored sight to more than 10 million previously blind people in more than two dozen countries.
Recognized with numerous honors including the TED Prize and Time’s 100 Most Influential People, he served as a trusted public voice throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Brilliant is the author of Sometimes Brilliant: The Impossible Adventure of a Spiritual Seeker and Visionary Physician Who Helped Conquer the Worst Disease in History (2016).
Wayne State University proudly bestows on Dr. Larry Brilliant the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.
Jamie Jacob and Dr. Denise Jacob
For their contributions to our community, Wayne State University awards the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, to Jamie Jacob and Dr. Denise Jacob.
Jamie and Denise Jacob emerged as pillars of the Detroit community through their professional achievements and philanthropic leadership. Denise led a successful 40-year career in nursing, earning a bachelor’s and doctorate in nursing from the University of Michigan and an M.S.N. from Wayne State. Throughout her career, Denise Jacob was a clinician, instructor, consultant and administrator, focusing on critical care, bioethics and holistic healing. Most recently, she served as a board member and chair for Planned Parenthood of Michigan. Jamie Jacob is owner and CEO of Ajax Paving Industries, a highly respected highway contractor in Southeast Michigan. He also serves as co-chair of Detroit Drives Degrees and is a board member of College, Career and Beyond.
Together, they established the Jamie and Denise Jacob Family Foundation. Their areas of focus — childhood enrichment, college success and reproductive health — reflect their belief in the power of education, opportunity and access to critical resources to create a more equitable and just society. In 2021, they developed a partnership with Wayne State’s College of Nursing. The Jacob Scholars Program is designed to provide high-achieving nursing students with the resources, support and mentorship needed to excel academically, financially and professionally. Through structured academic guidance, financial assistance and community engagement, this program prepares future nurses to thrive in their careers and make a meaningful impact in health care and their communities.
Wayne State University proudly bestows on Jamie Jacob and Dr. Denise Jacob the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.