EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University will present an honorary doctorate of humanities to Richard DeVos Sr., one of West Michigan's best-known philanthropists, at its Dec. 12 commencement ceremony.
He will receive his degree at the 10 a.m. ceremony.
The university will also present an honorary doctorate of science to world-renowned ecologist Simon Levin, the George M. Moffett Professor of Biology in Princeton University's Department of Ecology and Biology. He will receive his degree at the advanced degree ceremony, which will be held 7 p.m. Dec. 11.
Both ceremonies will be held at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center, One Birch Road, East Lansing.
"Mr. DeVos' support of the MSU College of Human Medicine, and to health sciences in general, will allow MSU to share in his goal of improving lives throughout the world," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. "Dr. Levin's mentorship of our faculty is indicative not only of his dedication to science but also to MSU's commitment to addressing global problems, such as environmental sustainability. We are privileged to honor these leaders."
The speaker for the advanced-degree ceremony will be Robert Tjian, president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Chevy Chase, Md. Edward Minskoff, president of Edward J. Minskoff Equities Inc., a New York-based real estate acquisition and development company, will speak at the 10 a.m. Dec. 12 ceremony. Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony. All speakers will receive honorary degrees.
For more information on MSU's commencement ceremonies, visit www.commencement.msu.edu.
Brief bios on DeVos Sr. and Levin follow.
Richard DeVos Sr. - honorary doctorate of humanities
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich., Richard M. DeVos Sr. is regarded as one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, having co-founded Amway Corp. in 1959 with the late Jay Van Andel. Amway is one of the world's largest direct selling businesses, operating in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide. In its most recent fiscal year, the Amway family of companies reported annual sales of $8.2 billion.
DeVos and his wife, Helen, have donated millions of dollars to advance health sciences through hospitals, colleges and universities - a vision that resulted in West Michigan's Medical Mile, which includes MSU's College of Human Medicine. DeVos contributed to the college's expansion into West Michigan and the building of the Secchia Center. In addition, the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is West Michigan's only children's hospital.
DeVos is chairman of the Orlando Magic, a National Basketball Association team.
Simon Levin - honorary doctorate of science
Levin, who has taught at Princeton since 1992, is the founding director of the university's Environmental Institute and director of its Center for BioComplexity. He is also an adjunct professor at Cornell University and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of California, Irvine.
A scholar and author, Levin's research focuses on ecosystems and ecological principles that advance environmental sustainability. Several MSU faculty members have worked with Levin, including University Distinguished Professor Jack Liu, Hannah Distinguished Professor Richard Lenski and Associate Professor Christopher Klausmeier.
Levin won the Heineken Prize in 2004 and the Kyoto Prize in 2005. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Levin sits on the advisory board of the International Network of Research on Coupled Human and Natural Systems, which is based at MSU with support from the National Science Foundation.
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