UDM 2013 Commencement Ceremony honors Jane K. Nugent '48
The School of Dentistry's graduation speaker is Gillian Barclay, D.D.S. '90, M.P.H., Dr.P.H., vice president of the Aetna Foundation. In her role at the foundation, she leads the development, execution and evaluation of the organization's national and international grant programs and cultivates new projects within its three its three focus areas: reducing obesity by promoting wellness and healthy choices, improving equity in health and health care and promoting integrated health care.
Dr. Barclay earned her doctorate of dental surgery at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and has taught at the Harvard School of Public Health and Hunter College of the City University of New York.
The School of Law's graduation speaker is Debbie Dingell, president of D2 Strategies and chairwoman of the Manufacturing Initiative of the American Automotive Policy Council. She is an active civic and community leader in both Michigan and Washington, D.C. and completed over 30 years at General Motors as a senior executive where she headed the GM Foundation and the public affairs department.
Jane K. Nugent '48
At Saturday's commencement, the University will honor one of its most outstanding alumna and distinguished businesswomen and philanthropists, Jane Kay Nugent (pictured). Serving the community has always been a priority for her and she has received numerous awards for her accomplishments. UDM President Antoine Garibaldi, Ph.D., will present Nugent with an honorary degree for her many years of volunteering in the community.
During her professional career, Nugent has been recognized for breaking the "glass ceiling" during her role as vice president of administration at Detroit Edison (now DTE Energy) from 1982-90, one of the top electric utility companies in the nation. She was responsible for overseeing the department of general purchasing, information systems, business services, security, buildings and properties, food service, general facilities administration, real estate and rights of way for the company. Nugent also made history when she became the first female vice president of the Economic Club of Detroit.
Nugent received degrees from the University of Detroit, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, as well as professional certification as a certified administrative manager and accredited executive personnel.
A past president of the International Association for Personnel Women and the Women's Economic Club, she served as the president of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan and the boards of many organizations, including Bon Secours of Michigan Healthcare System, First Bank of America-Southeast Michigan, Grosse Pointe War Memorial, and United Foundation. Nugent is a member of the College of Business Administration Hall of Honor and the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
Nugent has devoted her life to philanthropic causes, especially children, women's issues, education and health care. She has learned a great deal since her days at Edison, as a strong community partner, fostering employee involvement and setting a great example as a good corporate citizen in Detroit.
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The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan's largest private Catholic University, offering approximately 100 majors and programs in 60 academic fields. Sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the University has three campuses located in downtown and northwest Detroit.
For the 12th consecutive year, UDM was ranked among the top tier of Midwestern master's universities in U.S.News & World Report's "Best Colleges," 2013 edition.
Publish date: April 26, 2013