Contact: University Relations (517) 355-2281, or hodack@msu.edu
4/13/2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - James P. Hoffa will deliver the commencement address at the June 3 graduation ceremonies of the Michigan State University - Detroit College of Law, the college has announced. Two hundred graduates are expected to participate in commencement exercises at noon at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts.
Hoffa, who will be presented with an honorary doctor of law degree, is the general president of the Teamsters union, which represents 1.4 million workers. He was sworn into the union presidency on March 22, 1999, in Washington, D.C.
Hoffa was born on May 19, 1941 in Detroit, the only son of James R. Hoffa, former general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Josephine Hoffa. He attended the Detroit public schools, graduating in 1959 from Cooley High School, where he distinguished himself as a school leader, member of the National Honor Society, all-city and all-state football player.
Hoffa attended Michigan State University from 1959-63, playing football under the legendary MSU coach Duffy Daugherty and receiving a bachelor's degree in economics. In 1966 he received a LL.B. degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship to work in the Michigan State Senate as an aid to senators and house members doing constituent relations and research.
He began his law practice in 1968. From 1968-93, he represented Teamster joint councils, local unions and members on a wide-range of legal issues. He was actively engaged in negotiations, arbitration and National Labor Relations Board issues. He has practiced before the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Board. He has argued cases before federal, district, circuit and state courts and administrative law boards throughout the midwest.
A member of the Teamsters for 26 years, Hoffa has represented individual members in disputes involving workers compensation, Social Security and personal litigation. In 1993, he became the executive assistant to Michigan Teamsters Joint Council #43 President Larry Brennan. In that post, his duties included organizing, contract negotiations, dispute mediation and serving on the joint state grievance panels.
Hoffa is married to Virginia Harris and the couple has two sons, David and Geoffrey. David will graduate from MSU-DCL with the spring class of 2000.
In a new program offered at MSU, graduate students can get degrees in both labor relations and law, finishing both degrees in four years rather than five. Students can obtain their master's degree in labor relations and human resources through MSU's School of Labor and Industrial Relations at the same time they are completing their law degree (J.D.) through MSU-DCL.
Information on the dual degree program is available through SLIR at (517) 432-2800 or from MSU-DCL at (800) 844-9352.