The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents approved Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) at their Oct. 25 meeting as the Commencement Speaker for the Dec. 15, 2019 commencement ceremony.
Sen. Peters was first elected as a U.S. Senator from Michigan in 2014, following a long history of public service.
Peters started his career of public service as Rochester Hills Councilman in 1991. He then served eight years in the Michigan State Senate from 1995 to 2002 and as Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery for four years. He then went on to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, and the U.S. Senate in 2014. Peters also served in the United States Navy Reserve for 14 years.
Other political figures to recently serve as commencement speakers for Eastern Michigan include Michigan State Rep. David E. Rutledge, who served as Democratic Floor Leader for the House after his reelection in 2012, and Bridget Mary McCormack, a Michigan Supreme Court Justice.
The recommendation that was approved by the regents also includes an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree to be awarded to Sen. Peters.
Jack Roush will also be awarded with an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree. Roush is an EMU Alum and is the CEO of Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in North Carolina.
