Commencement Speaker

Michelle Bernard
Political and Legal Analyst, Journalist and Activist

Michelle D. Bernard is the founder of The Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy and an MSNBC political analyst. Bernard is a regular panelist with Hardball with Chris Matthews and The McLaughlin Group. Also, Bernard is a regular host of CBS radio's The Big Talker on Philadelphia's WPHT, and is a political commentator for The Hill's Congress Blog as well as her own blog, PoliticsWithoutParty.com. Bernard is the author of Women's Progress: How Women Are Wealthier, Healthier and More Independent Than Ever Before and is a contributing author to the National Urban League's State of Black America and Lifetime Network's Secrets of Powerful Women: 25 Successful American Politicians Tell How They Got Where They Are—And What It's Like. Bernard is the former president and CEO of the Independent Women's Forum (IWF). In 2009, Bernard created, co-produced and hosted IWF's historic television program, About Our Children, featuring Bill Cosby. The program, which explored poverty and education reform, aired on MSNBC on September 20, 2009.

An attorney by training, Bernard concentrates on domestic and foreign policy matters. As a political and legal analyst, Bernard has spoken on topics as varied as the historic 2008 presidential campaign and election, various Congressional and gubernatorial campaigns and elections, the political participation and voting trends of African Americans and women, education reform and school choice, energy policy and security, foreign policy and national security issues, the war in Iraq, and advancing democracy, economic liberty, and the human rights of women and ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East. Bernard has been featured in several publications, including Essence.com, Fast Company magazine, Jamaque magazine, The Legal Times, Newsmax magazine, The New York Daily News, The Washington Business Journal, The Washington City Paper, The Washington Lawyer, The Washington Post, The Washington Post Sunday Magazine and The Washington Times. In July 2008, Newsmax magazine named Bernard as one of three "Fast Trackers" on its list of the nation's top opinion leaders.

Bernard has appeared on ABC News Now, ABC Radio, BBC Radio, CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, C-SPAN's Q&A with Brian Lamb and Washington Journal, Fox News Channel's America's Newsroom, Hannity & Colmes, The O'Reilly Factor, Studio B with Shepard Smith, and Live Desk with Martha MacCallum, MSNBC's Decision ‘08, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Morning Joe and MSNBC Live. She has also been a guest of National Public Radio, PBS's This is America with Dennis Wholey and To the Contrary, XM Satellite Radio's presidential election channel POTUS 08 and various hosts with XM's The Power and several Middle Eastern radio and cable television programs.

Bernard's opinion editorials and commentaries have appeared in the G8 Summit magazine, US News and World Report, The Washington Examiner, National Review Online, The Nashua Telegraph, The New York Post, The Philadelphia Daily News, The Washington Times, and Townhall.com. Bernard has spoken before numerous organizations and founded IWF's Iraqi Women's Democracy Initiative, which assists in the development and implementation of training programs built on the pillars of democracy, women's rights and religious freedom, political activism in a democracy, issues of governance, free markets and non-governmental organizations.

Before joining IWF, Bernard had a short stint with the 2000 Bush-Cheney Presidential Inaugural Committee, Inc. Prior to that time, she was a partner at the District of Columbia's Patton Boggs LLP.

Bernard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and political science from Howard University and a Juris Doctor degree from The Georgetown University Law Center. Bernard is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Maryland.

Student Speakers

Michael Gardner // BBA ’12 // BBA/MAcc Student Speaker
Raised in Ypsilanti, Mich., Michael did not travel far to become a Wolverine. As a student, he concentrated his studies on strategy and management, while also pursuing a Spanish minor. As an active leader, Michael served as president of the Black Business Undergraduate Society — introducing significant milestones such as a scholarship banquet, a diversity conference, and MBA mentorship opportunities. As a mentor, he helped transform disadvantaged students into competitive business school applicants through the pre-business program, Preparation Initiative. Though his time at Michigan is coming to a close, Michael looks forward to joining Google Inc. as an account manager in Ann Arbor. He would like to thank his family, friends, and mentors for helping him maximize his potential and impact.

Noah Levin // MBA '12 // MBA Student Speaker
Noah grew up in Los Angeles but quickly fled to the Midwest, earning his undergraduate degree in Radio, Television and Film from Northwestern University. After college, Noah produced public festivals and haunted houses at Navy Pier in Chicago. Prior to Ross, he worked at McDonald's Corporation as an event producer, new media evangelist, and occasional drive-thru cashier. On campus, Noah could be found giving career advice (usually unsolicited) and stage managing Ross Follies. He interned with Amazon.com last summer and looks forward to returning full-time after his summer travels in Asia. Noah is deeply grateful for the experiences, opportunities and friendships he has gained at Ross. It's truly great to be a Michigan Wolverine.

2012 Student Award Winners

2012 Awards for Teaching Excellence