Honorary degree nominees for the University of Michigan’s 2025 Winter Commencement represent achievements in a broad range of fields, including civil rights activism, biomedical engineering, politics, and the music industry.
Fred Upton, a former U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan and a U-M alumnus, will be the main speaker at the Dec. 14 ceremony at Crisler Center. Upton has been recommended for an honorary Doctor of Laws.
Others recommended for honorary degrees by the university’s Honorary Degree Committee are:
- Diane Judith Nash, American civil rights activist, Doctor of Humane Letters.
- Robert Langer, biotechnologist, chemical engineer, chemist, and inventor, Doctor of Engineering.
- Don Was, musician, composer, record producer, Doctor of Music.
The degrees are pending approval by the Board of Regents at its Nov. 20 meeting.
Fred Upton
Upton, with his decades of public service and bipartisan leadership, exemplifies civic responsibility.
Born in 1953 in St. Joseph, Michigan, Upton grew up in a family of Wolverines — his parents and grandfather attended U-M — and he followed suit, earning a bachelor’s in journalism in 1975. As a student, he was a sports writer and editor for The Michigan Daily, honing his skills in inquiry and communication and carrying those skills with him to Capitol Hill.
After early service as a congressional aide and White House budget analyst, Upton was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986, representing Michigan’s 4th Congressional District. Over 18 terms, he earned the trust of his district while serving on, and ultimately chairing, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the chamber’s broadest authorizing body with jurisdiction over health care, energy, the environment and telecommunications.
Nominate an honorary degree recipient
The U-M community is asked to nominate honorary degree recipients for future winter and spring commencements. The nominee must have made significant contributions to their field or society.
Nominations may be submitted at any time.
The Honorary Degree Committee, chaired by Rackham Graduate School Dean Michael J. Solomon, includes faculty members from all three U-M campuses, as well as students and alumni, all of whom are appointed by the Board of Regents on the recommendation of the president.
Past U-M honorary degree recipients include musician Wynton Marsalis, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, journalist Christiane Amanpour, athlete Derek Jeter, artist Michele Oka Doner, and economist Janet Yellen.
As chair, Upton oversaw the passage of more than 350 measures through the House, with over 200 signed into law. His signature legislative achievement, the 21st Century Cures Act, became law in 2016 with overwhelming bipartisan support. This landmark measure provided billions in funding for the National Institutes of Health and streamlined the approval process for drugs and medical devices.
Building on this success, Upton worked with U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado on the Cures 2.0 framework, which informed the creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
Upton’s legislative portfolio reflects a focus on practical problem-solving. He partnered with colleagues across the aisle to combat the opioid crisis, protect the Great Lakes, and encourage energy innovation.
His commitment to civility and productive dialogue resonates with U-M’s mission. Upton has engaged directly with U-M students, notably through the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy’s “Conversations Across Difference” series, where he modeled respect and reasoned debate.
As the university continues to build its Look to Michigan vision, Upton’s career offers a blueprint for how leaders can strengthen democracy, foster innovation, and serve the public good.
Diane Judith Nash
Nash is among the most consequential figures of the American Civil Rights Movement. As a strategist, activist and teacher of nonviolence, she played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. history and illustrating the power of young people to effect change.
Born in 1938 in Chicago, Nash grew up in a middle-class Catholic household and went on to study English at Fisk University in Nashville. Troubled by the injustices of “whites only” signs in restaurants, theaters, and public spaces, she joined workshops on Gandhian nonviolence led by the Rev. James Lawson. There, Nash discovered the philosophy that would define her legacy.
By the age of 21, Nash emerged as a leader of the Nashville sit-in movement. Her insistence on “jail, no bail” turned incarceration itself into a tool of protest. Nash also helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, ensuring students would retain an independent voice in the movement. When the first Freedom Rides were met with firebombs and mobs, Nash persisted. Her leadership ensured that nonviolent resistance continued despite staggering risks.
As she famously declared, “They couldn’t quit now.”
Nash’s influence extended beyond the Freedom Rides. She also organized the Alabama Project and was a central figure in the Selma Voting Rights Movement, including the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. These demonstrations helped secure passage of the Voting Rights Act, one of the Civil Rights Movement’s crowning achievements.
Later, Nash returned to Chicago, where she continued her activism, advocating for fair housing and education. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Distinguished American Award from the John F. Kennedy Library and Foundation, and the LBJ Leadership in Civil Rights Award. She has also been featured in seminal books and documentaries, from “Eyes on the Prize” to “Freedom Riders.”
Nash’s steadfast commitment to justice and fearless embrace of nonviolence continues to serve as an admirable example of youth leadership.
Robert Samuel Langer Jr.
Langer is a pioneer in biomedical engineering. Born in Albany, New York, he became fascinated by science as a child while experimenting with a Gilbert chemistry set. He went on to study chemical engineering at Cornell University, earning his bachelor’s in 1970, followed by a Doctor of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974.
After graduation, Langer accepted a research position with renowned surgeon Judah Folkman at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, where he began working at the cutting edge of biomedical science.
Despite being trained as a chemical engineer, Langer’s work has revolutionized the field of biomedical engineering. His pioneering work in biomaterials and polymer science helped pave the way for biocompatible and biodegradable materials for controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering, transforming treatments for cancer, diabetes and neurological disorders.
By bridging disciplines and integrating chemistry, engineering, biology and medicine, Langer helped make technologies like sustained-release chemotherapy wafers and bioengineered tissue a reality.
At MIT, Langer is one of nine Institute Professors, the university’s highest academic accolade. He has authored more than 1,600 scientific articles and holds nearly 1,500 issued and pending patents. He has mentored hundreds of postdoctoral fellows, many of whom are now leaders in research and education, including at U-M. He has chaired the FDA’s highest scientific advisory board, and he is one of only a few individuals to have been awarded both the United States National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
Langer’s more than 220 major awards include the Charles Stark Draper Prize, the Millennium Prize, the Priestley Medal, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, the Kavli Prize, the Kyoto Prize, and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. He is also a member of the National Academies of Medicine, Engineering, and Sciences. He holds 44 honorary doctorates from leading universities — this recognition marks his 45th.
Langer has embodied the highest ideals of scientific discovery, ingenuity and mentorship, transforming the treatment of disease and improving the lives of countless individuals.
Don Was
Was stands as a visionary artist, musician and prolific music producer. Born in Detroit in 1952, Was absorbed the city’s musical currents from a young age — the sounds of Motown, the rhythm of blues, and the diverse influences of rock ’n’ roll. Growing up in Oak Park in a family of educators, he found himself immersed in a neighborhood alive with innovation and creativity.
Alongside his future collaborator David Weiss, later known as David Was, he began experimenting with music and satire, blending genres and subverting convention. The duo attended U-M, where their curiosity was further nurtured.
In the late 1970s, Was co-founded the band Was (Not Was), fusing funk, rock, pop and socially conscious lyrics. Hits like “Walk the Dinosaur” and “Spy in the House of Love” reflected a penchant for musical innovation and a commitment to reflecting real-world issues through art. The group’s daring sound and irreverence resonated internationally, solidifying its place in pop music history and providing Was with a launching pad as a producer.
Widely recognized as one of the premier music producers of his generation, Was helped shape the sound of icons. His collaboration with Bonnie Raitt on the 1989 Grammy-winning album “Nick of Time” is credited with revitalizing her career, while his work with the Rolling Stones on “Voodoo Lounge” honored their legacy and injected fresh energy.
Working with artists such as the B-52s, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Elton John, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Bob Seger and Iggy Pop, Was’ discerning ear and respect for artistic authenticity earned him industry accolades and the trust of musicians. In 2012, he became president of Blue Note Records, guiding one of the most storied jazz labels into a new era.
Throughout his career, Was has elevated the art of music production, championed the voices and traditions that define American music, and inspired generations through his creative vision and dedication to artistic authenticity.
