In the News
THE UNIVERSITY RECORD: Five receive President’s Medal of Excellence for contributions to U-M
Washington,
June 10, 2025
THE UNIVERSITY RECORD: Five receive President’s Medal of Excellence for contributions to U-M A renowned geneticist and physician, a U.S. Congresswoman, a former basketball star and two esteemed university supporters have been named recipients of the University of Michigan President’s Medal of Excellence. The President’s Medal of Excellence is awarded for significant contributions to the mission, purposes and ideals of the university. The contributions could be from efforts either internal or external to the university, for either academic or non-academic achievements. The 2025 award winners are:
The recipients were honored by President Domenico Grasso at a private reception June 9 at the President’s Residence. The President’s Medal of Excellence is awarded at the discretion of the president to four to eight individuals per year. An advisory committee recommends the honorees, which may include donors, politicians, artists, academics, athletes and others. Last year’s inaugural recipients were Carol S. Hutchins, retired U-M head coach of the women’s softball program; Earl Lewis, award-winning author and Thomas C. Holt Distinguished University Professor of History, Afroamerican and African Studies and Public Policy; Stephen M. Ross, U-M alumnus and donor, and business leader; and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. The following biographical information was supplied by the Office of the President. Francis S. Collins Collins has made extraordinary contributions to the fields of genetics and medical research and is celebrated for his pivotal role in decoding the human genome. After studying at the University of Virginia, Yale University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Collins joined the U-M faculty in 1984 as an assistant professor, pursuing genetics research that would soon change the medical world. Using a process he developed called “positional cloning,” Collins was able to cross large strands of DNA and identify disease-causing genes and their location on a chromosome. During his tenure at U-M, Collins discovered a gene that causes cystic fibrosis, as well as one that causes neurofibromatosis. He was also part of a collaborative effort to identify the gene that causes Huntington’s Disease. In 1993, he transitioned from academia to lead the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health, where his leadership culminated in the first complete mapping of the human genetic code in 2003 — a scientific breakthrough with profound implications for diagnosing and treating genetic conditions. In 2009, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the director of the NIH, a position he held for 12 years. Collins has written extensively on genetics and personalized medicine, as well as reflections on the harmony between science and faith, which led to his founding of the BioLogos Foundation. Debbie Dingell Dingell, a formidable force in both politics and philanthropy, serves as the representative for Michigan’s 6th Congressional District. While attending what was then Sacred Heart in Grosse Pointe Farms, she considered becoming a nun but ultimately found her calling in civic engagement and founded a nonprofit to motivate her peers to vote. Her academic journey led her to Georgetown University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign service in 1975. Although opportunities for women in that field were scarce, she returned to Michigan and began a remarkable career at General Motors. Over the span of more than 30 years, Dingell ascended to leadership roles, including President of the General Motors Foundation and a senior executive responsible for public affairs. In 1981, Debbie married John Dingell, a member of Congress, creating a dynamic political duo. Her political career took flight with her election to Wayne State University’s Board of Governors in 2006, a position she later chaired. When John, the longest-serving member of Congress, announced his retirement in 2014, Debbie seamlessly transitioned into politics, winning his seat in the 12th District and making history as the first non-widowed woman to succeed her husband in Congress. Dingell’s legislative efforts have consistently reflected her unwavering dedication to public health, the environment, women’s and children’s welfare, and Michigan’s auto industry. As a key member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Natural Resources Committee, and as chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, she continues to serve with distinction. Jalen Rose Born and raised in Detroit and a proud graduate of Southwestern High School, Rose first captured the national spotlight in the early 1990s as a key member of U-M’s iconic Fab Five, which reached the NCAA Championship game two straight years. In 1994, Rose was selected 13th overall in the National Basketball Association draft by the Denver Nuggets, embarking on a successful 13-year career with six different teams, including memorable runs to the Eastern Conference Finals with the Indiana Pacers. Transitioning seamlessly from player to pundit, Rose became a trusted voice in sports broadcasting as an analyst for ABC, ESPN, NBC and Turner. Perhaps the most commendable value Rose exhibits is his unwavering commitment to his community. His altruistic spirit is embodied by the Jalen Rose Foundation, established in 2000, which provides grants to nonprofits supporting sports and education initiatives across Detroit and beyond. Notably, the foundation endowed a scholarship in 2003 for Michigan-bound students from an inner-city area or underrepresented backgrounds. In 2011, Rose established the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a tuition-free, public charter high school in Northwest Detroit. Rose’s contributions to education and civic engagement have earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the Detroit High School Hall of Fame and the Michigan Basketball Hall of Fame, receiving the National Civil Rights Museum’s Sports Legacy Award and the Mannie Jackson — Basketball’s Human Spirit Award, and being named the Detroit News’ Michiganian of the Year. Judy and Fred Wilpon The Wilpons are deeply cherished U-M community members whose bond began during their student days in Ann Arbor. Fred arrived at U-M on a partial baseball scholarship, but his time on the mound was curtailed by injury. Ray Fisher, the then-coach, transitioned Fred’s athletic scholarship into an academic one, allowing him to continue his studies at U-M. The couple graduated from U-M in 1958 from LSA and began careers in their respective fields. Judy took a position working as an assistant for the legendary Branch Rickey, former president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, overseeing a new operation that would eventually become the Metropolitan Baseball Club — better known as the Mets. Fred, meanwhile, studied real estate development and co-founded Sterling Equities in 1972. Fred and his partners acquired the New York Mets in 1979 and Fred was appointed president and CEO, and continued until the team was sold in 2020. The Wilpons combined their passion for baseball and U-M in 2008, when they funded most of Michigan’s baseball stadium renovation, named the Ray Fisher Stadium — the same coach who championed Fred’s academics. They continued their support by extending their philanthropic reach to the Bone and Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center, the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex, Livingston Awards for young Journalists, Branch Rickey Collegiate, John F. Greden, M.D. Legacy Research, Rackham Graduate School and launching the Irene and Morris B. Kessler Presidential Scholarship in honor of Judy’s parents. At U-M, nearly 550 students have received financial support from the Kessler Scholars Program since its start in 2008, and Fred and Judy’s contributions transcend financial support, offering individualized activities and guidance to ensure success for first-generation, limited-income students. |