Issue date: April 24, 2003

Leaders in government, science to speak

By Kristin K. Anderson

MSU candidates for degrees will hear from leaders who have made significant contributions to state government and the scientific community during MSU spring commencement ceremonies Friday, May 2.

"We are privileged to honor five leaders in government, science and business who have served their constituents and states with distinction," said MSU President Peter McPherson. "Their leadership abilities, contributions and service reflect the best traditions of a land-grant institution."

Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm will address approximately 6,000 undergraduate students at the undergraduate convocation ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. She will receive an honorary doctor of laws at the ceremony.
Granholm, Michigan's 47th governor and the first female governor in the state's 166-year history, has a distinguished career in public service to the state.

Serving as the state's attorney general from 1998 to 2002, Granholm focused on protecting Michigan citizens and consumers. She established the state's first High Tech Crime Unit to prosecute Internet crimes.

Following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Granholm led a multi-agency effort to ensure Michigan laws can effectively be used to fight terrorism at the state level and cracked down on gas stations accused of price gouging during the crisis.

The first person in her family to attend college, she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and French from the University of California-Berkeley, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and with highest honors. At Harvard Law School she served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and graduated with honors in 1987. Following graduation she clerked for U.S. Judge Damon Keith on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Following her clerkship, her long-time interests in civil rights issues guided her to a career in public service, first as a federal prosecutor in Detroit, where she maintained a 98 percent conviction rate, and then as Wayne County Counsel, heading the county's Law Department.

Jane Lubchenco

Jane Lubchenco, an environmental scientist and marine ecologist who has gained a national reputation for her work in biodiversity, global warming and sustainability, will address candidates for advanced degrees at the 7 p.m. ceremony, also at the Breslin Center.

She will receive an honorary doctor of science at the ceremony.

Lubchenco, the Valley Professor of Marine Biology and Distinguished Professor of Zoology at Oregon State University, was the convener and lead author of the historical document, "The Sustainable Biosphere Initiative," which provided the general public and policy-makers with an understanding of the environmental challenges and opportunities for using natural resources in a sustainable manner in the 21st century.

The scientist co-founded and leads the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program that teaches outstanding environmental scientists to be more effective communicators of scientific information.

She and her husband, Bruce Menge, head a $20 million, four-university consortium - Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) -- that studies the dynamics of the marine ecosystem along the West Coast of the United States.
She also is a Principal of COMPASS, the Communication Partnership for Science and the Sea.

Lubchenco is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. She serves on the Pew Oceans Commission, an independent group of American leaders making recommendations to the country's leaders for managing oceans more responsibly.

Three individuals who have served in state government and in the business industry will receive honorary degrees at the commencement ceremonies.

Glenn S. Schafer

Glenn S. Schafer, a native of St. Johns now living in California, will be recognized for his leadership abilities and service as an MSU alumnus at the 1 p.m. convocation ceremony. He will receive an honorary doctor of business.

Schafer is president of one of the largest life insurance companies in the nation, Pacific Life Insurance Co., based in Newport Beach, Calif.

He has served as a member of The Eli Broad College of Business Alumni Association Board of Directors and as a member of the MSU Graduate School of Business board.

He was a catalyst in developing the college's strategic plan, which helped focus the school's priorities and move the school forward over the past few years.
He served as a member of the recent Broad College Dean's Search Committee and is the co-chairperson of the President's Capital Campaign Cabinet.

Former Sen. Harry Gast

Former state sens. Harry Gast of Stevensville and George McManus Jr. of Traverse City will be recognized for their contributions to the state of Michigan and the state agriculture industry.

Both will receive honorary doctors of agriculture at the 7 p.m. advanced degree ceremony.

Gast has led a long and distinguished career as a public servant to the people of Michigan and as owner of a 70-acre fruit and vegetable centennial farm near Stevensville.

His 57 years of public service, including 25 in Berrien County, eight in the state House of Representatives and 24 years in the state Senate, are marked by his advocacy for the agricultural producer as well as his efforts to develop balanced budgets throughout his tenure as chairperson of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

He helped the state develop resources to make agriculture a more competitive and profitable industry.

Gast's appreciation of and commitment to the land are expressed in his sponsorship of legislation such as the Sand Dune Preservation Act, the Environmental Bonding Act and the Wildlife Conservation Act.

He was in the forefront of sponsorship for legislation that created the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry, the Animal Agriculture Initiative at MSU and the establishment of the MSU Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center. He was also a strong supporter of Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs).

Former Sen. George McManus Jr.

McManus, a fourth-generation Grand Traverse County cherry farmer from Traverse City, was elected to serve the people of Michigan's 37th State Senate district in1990 and, in 1994, was elected to serve the people of the 36th district, where he served through 2002.

He spent 25 years as a Grand Traverse County MSU Extension agent and director before being elected to the state Senate, where he chaired the Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems Committee and was a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

He served as chairperson of the Appropriation Subcommittees on agriculture and natural resources and was a member of the higher education, retirement and capital outlay subcommittees.

He worked to pass farmland taxation reforms and to establish zero interest loans for farm operations beset by drought and was the author of the Groundwater and Freshwater Protection Act.

Admission tickets are not required for the convocation and advanced degree ceremonies. Guests are encouraged to not bring large bags into the facility. Large bags will be subject to search. Students, their families and guests are also encouraged to use the free shuttle bus service.

For additional MSU commencement information, visit the commencement Web site at: www.msu.edu/~acadevnt/commencement/