Wayne State University
Warrior strong
Login
Search

Commencement

The May 2025 Commencement ceremony will be held at the Wayne State Fieldhouse on April 30 - May 2.Β 

Wayne State University confers degrees for fall, winter and spring/summer terms and honors its graduates by hosting commencement ceremonies in December and May. Ceremonies are for students completing the following degrees: Ph.D., Ed.D., doctoral, master's and bachelor's.

All Ph.D./Ed.D. candidates must check with their advisor and/or dean's office in the Graduate School or the College of Education for the exact requirements that must be completed to participate in commencement ceremonies.

Student speaker

Cordelia Krajewski
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.Β 

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 β€” 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.

Beyond campus, Krajewski shares her love of the arts by teaching preschool-level dance at Downriver Dance Academy in her hometown.

Krajewski is deeply grateful for the community she has found at Wayne State and extends heartfelt thanks to her friends and family for their unwavering support. She is honored to speak on behalf of the graduating class and congratulates her fellow Warriors on this remarkable achievement.

Honorary degrees

Dr. Larry Brilliant
Dr. Larry Brilliant

For his many achievements, Wayne State University awards the Doctor of Science,Β honoris causa, to Dr. Larry Brilliant.

A native son of Detroit and a Wayne State alumnus, Dr. Brilliant, Class of ’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
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.Β 

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.Β 

Dr. Denise Jacob

Together, they established the Jamie and Denise Jacob Family Foundation. Their areas of focus β€” childhood enrichment, college success and reproductive health β€” 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.Β 

Wayne State University proudly bestows on Jamie Jacob and Dr. Denise Jacob the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.