Two-time Eastern Michigan University alumnus and McLaren Health Care President and CEO Philip Incarnati to serve as winter commencement speaker – December 17

YPSILANTI – McLaren Health Care President and CEO Philip Incarnati will give the commencement address at Eastern Michigan University’s graduation ceremony Saturday, Dec. 17, at Eastern’s George Gervin GameAbove Center.

Incarnati will speak at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony and will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Ronald Woods, an emeritus faculty member and professor will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. The EMU Board of Regents approved the appointments at its regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8.

Graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences, Individualized Studies, College of Business, College of Education, GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, and the College of Health and Human Services will participate in the ceremony.

Incarnati is a two-time graduate of Eastern, holding both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration. As a student, he competed for the EMU football team, earning a scholarship to play strong safety. Incarnati’s legacy at EMU runs deep as he served on the Board of Regents from 1992-2010, including serving as chair for 10 years. His leadership as a Regent and generous donations continue to support innovation, growth, and excellence on Eastern’s campus. 

Incarnati began his health care career in 1977 and held top-level executive positions with the Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center, and Horizon Health System before joining McLaren Health Care. In 1989, Incarnati became the president and CEO of McLaren Health Care, a single hospital in Flint, Michigan, at the time. 

Today, Incarnati remains the president and chief executive officer of McLaren Health Care. Under his leadership, the organization has grown into a $6 billion, fully-integrated health care delivery system with 14 hospitals and an almost 500-member primary care and specialty care network. The network provides care for nearly 700,000 people. McLaren Health also operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers. 

Incarnati currently serves as a member of the Boards of Directors of Anthelio Healthcare Solutions, Inc., ProTom International, Inc., Reliant Renal Care, Inc. and McLaren Health Care. He previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of King Pharmaceuticals, McKesson Corporation, Theragenics Corporation and the Medical Staffing Network and as Chair of the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents.

Incarnati obtained his bachelor’s degree and Master of Management and Finance from Eastern Michigan University.

Ronald Woods to receive Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Emeritus Professor Ronald Woods will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the commencement ceremony. Woods has substantially contributed to improving the human condition through community service, advocacy, and philanthropy.

Woods is the founding department head of African American studies at EMU and was the first to serve on the President’s Commission on Diversity. He has also served as the Michael O. Sawyer visiting constitutional law and politics professor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, and as a legal services attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Woods was previously the interim president of the Michigan Council of Black Studies and has been a consultant to school systems on various aspects of desegregation and diversity enhancement. He is on the board of directors of the African American Culture and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County. In addition, he is a consultant to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. 

From 2002-2004, Woods was the director of the Eastern Michigan Institute for the Study of Children, Families, and Communities. As a member of the board of directors at Wittenberg University, he has lectured internationally. He has also published articles on African refugee policy and American vernacular English. 

Woods holds a Juris Doctor of Law from the University of Michigan, a Master of History also from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of History from Wittenberg University. 

Visit the Commencement website for more information. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University’s website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.