Jalen Rose, Fab Five Legend, to Address UM Graduation Ceremony
Jalen Rose will speak to the University of Michigan Class of 2026 at spring commencement. Jalen Rose, Fab Five Legend, to Address UM Graduation Ceremony, and he will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Ceremony logistics and honorees
The ceremony is set for May 2 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The university regents approved the honorary degrees during their Thursday meeting.
Four additional individuals will receive honorary degrees alongside Rose.
- Shirin Ebadi — Nobel Prize-winning human rights lawyer; Doctor of Laws.
- Ingeborg Hochmair — electrical engineer and cochlear implant pioneer; Doctor of Engineering. She will speak at the Rackham Graduate Exercises on May 1 at the Crisler Center.
- Michael Phelps — Olympic swimmer and record holder; Doctor of Laws.
- Ron Weiser — former UM regent, businessman, philanthropist, and ex-chair of the Michigan Republican Party; Doctor of Laws. His gifts helped found the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia.
Rose’s Michigan and professional background
Rose rose to prominence as a member of Michigan’s famed Fab Five. His teammates included Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson.
The group reached the NCAA title game in 1992 and 1993 under coach Steve Fisher. Rose later spent 13 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2007.
He founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy charter school in Detroit. He also stars in the Detroit-shot series South West High on Tubi.
Recent public remarks
Rose and Chris Webber recently appeared on TNT Sports’ The Steam Room with Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley. During that conversation, Rose suggested the Fab Five would have received different treatment at Michigan State, which he called a true basketball school.
He and Webber also complained about team dining during their playing days. Rose said the program has not always acknowledged the group’s impact.
Past UM honorary degree recipients include Wynton Marsalis, Gretchen Whitmer, Christiane Amanpour, Derek Jeter, Michele Oka Doner, and Janet Yellen. Filmogaz.com will follow developments as the commencement approaches.
