16-04-2025
Mat Ishbia among speakers for MSU spring graduation ceremonies
EAST LANSING — A member of the 2000 national championship basketball team and longtime Michigan State University booster Mat Ishbia is one of the speakers for this year's Spring Commencement.
Ishbia will speak at the convocation, the "kick off" to graduation, at 12:30 p.m. on May 2 at the Breslin Student Events Center.
Ishbia is the president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage and the owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. He also was on Tom Izzo's 2000 MSU National Championship team. Ishbia has donated millions to the university, including funding for the Tom Izzo Football Building.
At 9 a.m. on May 2, Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and People Deirdre O'Brien will speak to master's and educational specialist degree recipients and will receive an honorary doctorate of business.
A Spartan alum, O'Brien was included in Fortune's list of the most powerful women in business and Fast Company's Queer 50 list of top innovators in business and technology. She has a bachelor's degree in operations management from MSU and a master of business administration from San Jose State University
At 2:30 p.m. on May 2, James Spaniolo will address MSU's doctoral candidates, including those earning degrees in philosophy, education, nursing practice and musical arts.
Spaniolo was the dean of MSU's College of Communication Arts and Sciences before being named president of the University of Texas, Arlington. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from MSU and two graduate degrees from the University of Michigan in law and public administration. Spaniolo will receive an honorary doctorate of education.
More than 10,000 students will earn their degrees during the university's spring semester commencement ceremonies beginning May 1.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Mat Ishbia among speakers for MSU spring graduation ceremonies
