Whitmer named Michigan State University’s spring commencement speaker

East Lansing ― Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz said Friday that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, an MSU alumna, will be speaking at the university’s spring 2026 graduation ceremony.

Whitmer will be speaking at MSU’s spring undergraduate convocation, which is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at the Breslin Center.

Whitmer is a two-time MSU graduate, earning both her bachelor’s and law degrees from MSU.

Whitmer has been the governor since 2019.

Christopher Fernandez was announced as the speaker for the university’s master’s and educational specialist ceremony, scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 1 at Breslin Center.

Fernandez is a member of MSU’s School of Human Resources & Labor Relations Advisory Board, which he served as president of from 2014-16. He also runs a company called Agentic Connect, which is focused on individuals in the labor market realizing a direct benefit from a human-centered artificial intelligence approach.

Ann Austin, university distinguished professor for the Department of Educational Administration in the College of Education, will be speaking at the doctoral ceremony for the university, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. May 1 at the Breslin Center.

Austin has served on the faculty in higher, adult and lifelong education in the College of Education since 1991, including serving as interim vice provost and associate vice president for faculty and academic staff affairs from 2022-23 and assistant provost for faculty and academic staff development from 2016-21.

kgraham@lsj.com

@KarlyGrahamJrn

The Detroit News contributed.