U of M commencement ceremonies begin April 28

Throughout the coming weeks, the University of Minnesota will host numerous commencement ceremonies, recognizing thousands of students across its five campuses.

Notable speakers participating in this year’s ceremonies include:
Louis W. Sullivan, MD, who will address graduates of the School of Dentistry at 10 a.m., Friday, May 12 at Northrop. He is the chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Sullivan Alliance to Transform the Health Professions and chairman of the board of the National Health Museum in Atlanta. Dr. Sullivan also served as chair of the President’s Commission on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2002-2009), and was co-chair of the President’s Commission on HIV and AIDS (2001-2006). Prior, Dr. Sullivan was secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1989 to 1993, and for more than two decades, led the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), the first predominantly black medical school established in the 20th century.

Eric Jing, CEO of Ant Financial Services Group, a related company of the world’s largest retailer Alibaba, who will address graduates of the Carlson School of Management at two ceremonies. The graduate ceremony begins at 9 a.m. with the undergraduate ceremony set for 1 p.m. on Monday, May 15, at Mariucci Arena. Ant Financial promotes an open financial services ecosystem, with more than 450 million customers—many of whom are underserved by traditional financial institutions—using the company’s digital payment platform. Jing received his Executive MBA from the Carlson School.

Senator Amy Klobuchar D-M.N., who will address students at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs graduate ceremony at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 in the Ted Mann Concert Hall. Klobuchar is the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the United States Senate. In 2015, she was appointed Chair of the Senate Democratic Steering Committee, where she brings together senators, businesses, community leaders, policy experts and intergovernmental organizations to help develop policies to strengthen the economy and move the country forward. Senator Klobuchar also serves as the Ranking Member on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights as well as the Senate Rules Committee.

Grant Erickson, principal engineer at Nest labs and President of Thread Group, will address graduates of the College of Science and Engineering at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 12 in Mariucci Arena. At Nest, he currently oversees the technical development of software designed to support Bluetooth Low Energy, Thread, WiFi and Nest Weave. Erickson was also an early contributor to the formation of the Thread Group and Thread networking protocol. He holds both a master’s and bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering Magna Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Joel Kramer, co-founder of MinnPost, who will address graduates of the University Honors Program at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 4 at Northrop. Kramer’s career in journalism was highlighted by his editorial work on two Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative projects—one at Newsday and one at the Star Tribune. He co-founded MinnPost with his wife, Laurie, and served as CEO and editor from its inception in 2007 until 2016. Kramer currently chairs Minnesota Jewish Media — which publishes The American Jewish World, — serves on numerous boards and with his wife, belongs to the 1% Club, which means the Kramers promise to contribute one percent of their net worth every year to philanthropic causes.

The complete commencement schedule, including speakers for the University’s colleges and schools, is as follows:

Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Graduate Student Commencement: Scott Lanyon, vice provost and dean of Graduate Education, noon, Friday, April 28, Mariucci Arena, 1901 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis. 

College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Graduate Ceremony: Shefali V. Mehta, agricultural and environmental economist who leads her own consulting firm, Open Rivers Consulting Associates, 2 p.m., Friday, April 28, North Star Ballroom at the St. Paul Student Center, 2017 Buford Ave., St. Paul.

University Honors Program: Joel Kramer, co-founder of MinnPost, 7 p.m., Thursday, May 4, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

Medical School: Krista Tippett, public radio show host, journalist and author, 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 5, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

College of Continuing Education: Bill Spinelli, MD, a retired family practitioner and research fellow, 10 a.m., Saturday, May 6, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

University of Minnesota Duluth: Alumna Gabriela Gold (‘81), an international management consultant in both the private and public sectors, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday, May 6, Amsoil Arena, 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth.

Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence: Two U of M students will speak, 1 p.m., Saturday, May 6, Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 S. 4th St., Minneapolis.

College of Pharmacy: Marilyn Speedie, PhD, dean of the College of Pharmacy, 2 p.m., Saturday, May 6, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

University of Minnesota Crookston: Eric Kaler, U of M president, 2 p.m., Saturday, May 6, Lysaker Gymnasium, 139 Sports Center, 2900 University Ave., Crookston.

College of Veterinary Medicine: Alumna Janet Donlin (‘81), DVM, CAE, CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 7 p.m., Saturday, May 6, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

Lavender Celebration: Roxanne Anderson, community activist, 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 10, Mississippi Room at Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis.

College of Education and Human Development (CEHD): Abdul Wright, 2016 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, will speak at the graduate ceremony at 12:30 p.m., and the undergraduate ceremony at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, Mariucci Arena, 1901 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis.

School of Public Health: Camara Jones, MD, PhD, MPH, 5 p.m., Thursday, May 11, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

School of Dentistry: Louis W. Sullivan, MD, chairman, Sullivan Alliance to Transform the Health Professions and chairman of the board of the National Health Museum, 10 a.m., Friday, May 12, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Undergraduate Ceremony: Alise Sjostrom, owner/proprietor at Redhead Creamery in Brooten, Minnesota, 2 p.m., Friday, May 12, Mariucci Arena, 1901 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis.

School of Nursing: Cindy Kent, president and general manager, 3M Drug Delivery Systems, 2 p.m., Friday, May 12, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

College of Science & Engineering Undergraduate Ceremony: Grant Erickson, principal engineer at Nest and President of Thread Group, 7 p.m., Friday, May 12, Mariucci Arena, 1901 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis.

Law School: Alumna Cathy Haukedahl (’79), executive director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, 10 a.m., Saturday, May 13, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

University of Minnesota Rochester: Rachel Olson, PhD, UMR faculty member, 11 a.m., Saturday, May 13, Mayo Civic Center Auditorium, 30 Civic Center Drive S.E., Rochester.

University of Minnesota Morris: Alumnus Ravi Norman ('98), CEO of THOR Construction, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 13, Campus Mall, 600 E. 4th St., Morris.

Humphrey School of Public Affairs Graduate Ceremony: Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator from Minnesota, 3 p.m., Saturday, May 13, Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 S. 4th St., Minneapolis.

College of Design: David Rubin, founding principal of LAND COLLECTIVE, 3 p.m., Saturday, May 13, Northrop, 84 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

College of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Ceremony: Dr. Paul Siliciano, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies - Biochemistry, 5 p.m., Saturday, May 13, Mariucci Arena, 1901 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis.

College of Liberal Arts: Alumna Maria Bamford ('93), a stand-up comedian, actress and voice actress. Bamford will speak at two undergraduate ceremonies (11 a.m. and 4 p.m.), Sunday, May 14, Mariucci Arena, 1901 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis.

Carlson School of Management: Eric Jing (‘05), CEO of Ant Financial Services Group. Jing will speak at the graduate ceremony (9 a.m.) and undergraduate ceremony (1 p.m.) on Monday, May 15, Mariucci Arena, 1901 S.E. 4th St., Minneapolis.

College of Biological Sciences and Medical School Basic Sciences Graduate Ceremony: 5 p.m., Monday, May 15, McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis.