Michigan State University will host advanced degree and baccalaureate Commencement ceremonies for more than 390 College of Engineering students this weekend at the Breslin Center.
Commencement for all MSU doctoral, master’s and educational specialist degree recipients will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 13. Commencement for baccalaureate recipients will take place in two separate ceremonies with Engineering taking part in the afternoon ceremony on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.
Teresa A. Sullivan, president emerita and university professor emerita, University of Virginia, and former MSU interim provost, will address doctoral, master’s and educational specialist degree recipients. She will receive an honorary degree of humanities.
Darius Adamczyk, chairman of Goldman Sachs Private Asset Investments and Operations and MSU Electrical and Computer Engineering alumnus, will address graduating students from the colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Communication Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Natural Science and Nursing, as well as Lyman Briggs College. He will receive an honorary doctor of engineering. Adamczyk earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering from MSU in 1988 and received the John D. Ryder Electrical and Computer Engineering Alumni Award in 2018.
Jillian Lorenz, co-founder of The Barre Code and MSU Mechanical Engineering alumna, will address graduating students from the colleges of Arts and Letters, Business, Education, Music, Social Science, as well as James Madison College and the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities. She will receive an honorary doctor of business. Lorenz earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from MSU in 2000 and was voted Spartan Innovator of the Year in 2018 by MSU alumni.
More about distinguished Engineering alumni speakers
College of Engineering Interim Dean John Papapolymerou said he is incredibly proud of the Spartan Engineers serving as Commencement speakers.
“Our distinguished alumni serve as beacons of success for all current and future Spartan Engineers,” Papapolymerou said. “They affirm engineering degrees from MSU are a foundation for a bright and successful future."
Darius Adamczyk
Darius Adamczyk, a highly accomplished and inspiring business professional, serves as the chairman of Goldman Sachs Private Asset Investments and Operations. In this role, he works closely with the investing leadership teams, focusing on conducting diligence for potential new investments, advising the leadership of portfolio companies and helping to deliver operational excellence to accelerate growth.
Adamczyk was executive chairman of Honeywell from June 2023 through June 2024. In that role, he focused on supporting customer relationships, business development, enterprise strategic planning, portfolio shaping and global government relations. He was first elected Honeywell chairman in April 2018. Adamczyk also served as chief executive officer from March 2017 to June 2023. Under his leadership, the company streamlined its portfolio and end markets, simplified and digitized functional operations, and outperformed the market and company’s peer group.
Over his seven years at Honeywell, Adamczyk created triple-digit shareholder returns and $50 billion in market value. Among his other accomplishments, Adamczyk launched a software platform, Honeywell Connected Enterprise, and created the world’s largest quantum computing hardware and software company.
Adamczyk has received a multitude of awards and accolades, such as the 2019 Great Immigrant Award by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, in recognition of his sustained excellence and perseverance. He also was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2022 and received the Legend of Leadership Award from Yale School of Management that same year.
His educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in computer engineering from Syracuse University and a master of business administration from Harvard University.
Jillian Lorenz
Jillian Lorenz is an MSU alum and an accomplished entrepreneur. After graduating from MSU in 2000 with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, she built a career in business consulting before co-founding The Barre Code in 2010, a barre fitness company that quickly exploded to national recognition and success with its powerfully positive message of self-acceptance and personal growth. The Barre Code has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Inc., WSJ, Vogue, Self and ranked in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 for four consecutive years.
After the successful sale of The Barre Code in 2023, Lorenz now shares her expertise as an executive coach at SoulYou Coaching, and venture partner at Exit Quotient Ventures, where she invests in the next generation of business founders and helps them reach their full potential.
Lorenz has been a valuable part of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MSU where she now serves as a member of the External Resource Council. She was also voted the Spartan Innovator of the Year in 2018 by MSU alumni.
Commencement location, livestream, social media, personal messages
All ceremonies will be held at the Breslin Student Events Center at 534 Birch Road on the East Lansing campus. The events will be livestreamed and available to view via MSU’s Commencement website. Social media users can follow the ceremonies on social media platforms using #SpartanGrad24.
Each ceremony is about two hours. No admission tickets are required.
Family, friends and fellow alums will be able to honor graduating students by submitting personalized messages and photos to be displayed on stage prior to the ceremonies. Supporters can submit their well wishes online starting today through graduation day. Each ceremony below has its own unique link for message submissions.
- Doctoral, master’s and educational specialist degrees – Dec. 13, 3:30 p.m.
- Baccalaureate ceremony – Dec. 14, 10 a.m.
- Baccalaureate ceremony – Dec. 14, 2 p.m.
Safety protocols, parking, concessions
For the safety of attendees, only small transparent bags are allowed. Cameras, camcorders and certain carrying cases also are permitted. More information about the bag policy is available on the Breslin Center’s website. No food or beverages — including bottled water — will be allowed, and this applies to graduates, guests and faculty. The Breslin Center will offer a limited concessions menu during the ceremonies.
Additional prohibited items include noisemakers, selfie sticks, pets, signs and weapons of any form. Breslin Center is a smoke-free facility. Metal detectors will screen all attendees, so please plan accordingly.
There are several ramps and lots available for parking during Commencement ceremonies. There will be no charge for parking in any lot or ramp for the duration of these events.
Parking at the Breslin Center is limited, so the public is encouraged to use the free shuttle service.
Programs available online, via mail
There are no printed Commencement programs on-site at any ceremony location. QR codes will be available for viewing. Fall 2024 programs are available by completing this form. Programs will be mailed after the ceremonies.
Related links:
- MSU Commencement website
- Influential business and former Spartan leaders to address MSU’s fall graduates
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page