UW-Milwaukee Spring Commencement 2013

MILWAUKEE – The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2013 Spring Commencement will be held Sunday, May 19, at the U.S. Cellular Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave. Due to the number of graduates, there are two commencement ceremonies, with graduate participation determined by the school or college attended.

An estimated 2,240 bachelor’s, 835 master’s and 160 Ph.D. degree candidates have been invited to participate. For more information, visit uwm.edu/secu/commencement.

John Gurda, Marianne Lubar, Allan H. (Bud) Selig and Ashwani K. Gupta have been announced as honorary degree recipients.

BLACK CEREMONY, 9 A.M.

The Black Ceremony includes bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. candidates from the following schools and colleges: School of Architecture & Urban Planning, College of Letters & Science, School of Freshwater Sciences, School of Information Studies, Peck School of the Arts and the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health.

Chancellor Michael R. Lovell, University of Wisconsin System Regent Regina Millner and UWM Alumni Association Board of Trustees President Allyson Nemec will welcome the participants.

John Gurda will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Milwaukee History and Geography, and will give the commencement address.

GOLD CEREMONY, 1:30 P.M.

The Gold Ceremony includes bachelor’s, master’s, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Ph.D. candidates from the following schools and colleges: Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business, School of Education, College of Engineering & Applied Science, College of Health Sciences, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare and College of Nursing.

Chancellor Michael R. Lovell, University of Wisconsin System Regent Vice President Michael Falbo and UWM Alumni Association Board of Trustees President Allyson Nemec will welcome the participants.

Marianne Lubar will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Leadership in the Arts, and Allan H. (Bud) Selig will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Business. Lubar and Selig will both deliver a commencement address.

Ashwani K. Gupta will be awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Energy and Engineering Science at UWM’s Winter Commencement in December.

May 2013 Honorary Degree Recipients

JOHN GURDA
Author, Historian, and Broadcaster

Honorary Doctor of Milwaukee History and Geography

JOHN GURDA, an alumnus of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (M.A. 1978 Cultural Geography), is recognized as the premier historian of Milwaukee. He is known for “The Making of Milwaukee,” the basis of an Emmy award-winning documentary of the same name by Milwaukee Public Television. Gurda’s contributions to the legacy of the City of Milwaukee are highly regarded both locally and nationally.

Gurda’s achievements include more than 40 years of historical writings and work in public broadcasting. He also writes a local history column for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

He has received the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Award of Merit eight times. This award recognizes outstanding historical work that helps connect individuals to the past.

Also among his awards is the 2010 C.R. Conlee Community Service Award from the Milwaukee County Historical Society. Since1954, the Milwaukee County Historical Society has honored individuals, community organizations and businesses that have worked diligently to preserve and promote local history. Cited was how his promoting of a greater appreciation of the city’s history has led to a better understanding of the issues and challenges of today’s Milwaukee.

He is a highly sought-after authority on Milwaukee’s history. UWM administrators and policy analysts who participate in collaborative endeavors with local public and private agencies have utilized his vast knowledge.

Gurda is a patron and benefactor of the UWM Libraries. Over the years, he has used the libraries for research for various projects. Gurda recognizes the national and international value of the UWM Libraries and has actively supported it, specifically the American Geographical Society Library.

He is a member of the editorial board for the Encyclopedia of Milwaukee, providing guidance for this multi-year project documenting the history of metro Milwaukee in an online resource and coffee table book.

Gurda also has contributed to the intellectual life of UWM as a guest lecturer in numerous university courses.

MARIANNE LUBAR
Arts visionary, philanthropist and leader
Honorary Doctor of Leadership in the Arts

MARIANNE LUBAR’s contributions span numerous arts and cultural disciplines. As a leader, champion, philanthropist, adviser and sustainer of arts and culture in Milwaukee, she has made an impact on UWM students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as the Milwaukee community. It is fitting that Lubar is being honored during UWM’s Year of the Arts, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Peck School of the Arts.

Lubar was the first woman to serve as president of the Florentine Opera’s Board of Directors, and  is the founding president of the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, which showcases the legacy of the city’s Jewish community and increases awareness and appreciation of Jewish life and culture.

As a lifelong learner, Lubar chaired the Friends Renovation Task Force for the UWM Libraries. Her involvement and commitment was also instrumental in the growth and sustainability of the Milwaukee Art Museum, UWM Fine Arts Quartet and the Milwaukee Film Festival. Today, she remains actively engaged with the organizations that she once served in leadership roles.

In 2002, she and her husband, Sheldon Lubar, were awarded the Governor’s Award in the Support of the Arts, which celebrates exceptional supporters, leaders and organizations that make Wisconsin a primary cultural resource for its citizens. She has also received the Benjamin Franklin Award given by the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation and the Jewish Museum Milwaukee’s Spirit of Community award.

Lubar has helped Milwaukee become a prominent metropolitan area attracting businesses, students and human capital. Her work as an advocate for the arts and cultural heritage has enhanced the quality of life in Milwaukee and surrounding areas.

ALLAN H. (BUD) SELIG
Commissioner, Major League Baseball
Honorary Doctor of Business

ALLAN H. (BUD) SELIG was elected as the ninth Commissioner of Major League Baseball in 1998 by a unanimous vote of the 30 Major League Baseball club owners. His leadership has improved the game as well as the business of baseball. Selig reformed the game’s economic structure, which had concentrated money in a few clubs, to restore “hope and faith” to fans in all 30 markets, regardless of size. As a result, Major League Baseball has achieved record levels of attendance and business performance over the last decade.

He has fashioned consensus for revolutionary changes during his tenure as commissioner. Selig promoted and achieved changes in the game’s structure, including interleague play, revenue sharing and consolidation of the league’s administrative functions. Other innovations include three-division formats in the American and National Leagues, with extra tiers of playoffs and wild card formats. Selig also promoted instant replay and new ballparks in 20 markets.

A native and resident of Milwaukee, Selig is perhaps best known in Wisconsin as the person who returned Major League Baseball to his hometown after the Milwaukee Braves left for Atlanta in 1965. On April 7, 1970, the Milwaukee Brewers played their first game at Milwaukee County Stadium. In the 1990s, Selig led a successful effort to build Miller Park, the $295 million stadium that replaced Milwaukee County Stadium. In 2005, the Brewers were sold, ending Selig’s 35-year relationship with the club.

His support of charitable organizations is extensive. Under Selig’s guidance, Major League Baseball became a founding donor of Stand Up 2 Cancer, which supports cancer research.  Selig also is a founder of Athletes for Youth.

Locally, he is the co-founder of the Child Abuse Prevention Fund and a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Business Advisory Council of UWM’s Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business. He is active in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Art Museum.