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Alumni Achievement Spirit Awards Past Honorees
The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ Alumni Achievement Spirit Awards recognize the University’s distinguished graduates, from each of its colleges and schools, who have excelled in their chosen profession, demonstrated outstanding leadership in their work, and benefited the wider community through their support. Award recipients reflect the University’s mission of excellence and service and bring pride to their alma mater.
Previous years' honorees are listed below.
For the latest honorees and information on the award ceremony, see the main Spirit Awards page.
Previous Winners
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2025

Each year, one distinguished alumnus is honored from each òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ college and school. This year's honorees are:
Douglas Dascenzo '21System Vice President, Nursing Operations
Henry Ford HealthCollege of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing
Dascenzo has had a 40-year healthcare career during which he established himself as a transformational leader while staying committed to the needs of patients. His many honors include the 2024 Michigan Health and Hospital Association Grassroots Champion Award and the 2022 òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ Nursing Leadership Impact Award. Dascenzo is currently the Regional Chief Nursing Office of Trinity Health.
Mike DiGiovanni ’70, ’72Executive Director, Global Market & Industry Analysis (Ret.)
General MotorsCollege of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
During a 31-year career with General Motors, DiGiovanni helped conceive and was the executive in charge of the automaker’s iconic Hummer, a civilian version of the military Humvee. A longtime supporter of òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ, he has been an adjunct economics professor and instituted the GM Student Corps, which matches teams of high school interns with retired GM execs to plan and execute community service projects.
Michael P. Jacob ’81Chief Strategy Officer
Cormia Design GroupSchool of Architecture & Community Development
A longtime player in Florida architecture, Jacob’s career has been forged with a commitment to create inspiring places that improve the quality of life for everyone in the community. The American Institute of Architects Florida branch honored his contributions to the field by creating the Jacob Leadership Institute to provide leadership training and support to architects.
Barbara A. Purifoy-Seldon ’70Associate Professor (Ret.)
University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµSchool of Dentistry
Purifoy-Seldon is a retired associate professor at òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ Dental. After serving in the United States Army, she was the first African American student in the Dental Hygiene program. She is well known for her work on race relations, state boards to ensure quality in dental education and community events.
Rosalie Tocco-Bradley ’78Chief Clinical Officer
Trinity HealthCollege of Engineering & Science
Over her impressive career, Tocco-Bradley held several positions at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and the St. Joseph Mercy Health System including instructor of fundamental critical care support, and chief of staff at St. Joseph Mercy before being named chief clinical officer of Trinity Health Michigan in 2018. In 2020, she was named one of Crain’s Detroit Business’ Notable Women in Health.
Mark A. Wisniewski ’90Chairman and CEO
Kitch Attorneys and Counselors, PCSchool of Law
Chair and CEO of the Detroit-based law firm Kitch Attorneys & Counselors, PC. He has served òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ Law on boards and advisory committees and in 2016 received the òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ Law Alumni Association’s Time & Talent Award for alumni who have provided distinguished leadership and dedicated service to the School of Law and its alumni association.
William P. Young ’90, ’04President
Absopure Water CompanyCollege of Business Administration
Young has led major growth of his family’s businesses since he started working there upon graduation. He is president of Absopure Water Co. and past former chief information officer for Plastipak Packaging, Inc. He has also volunteered his time on òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ advisory boards and cultural organizations in Detroit.
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2024

Each year, one distinguished alumnus is honored from each òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ college and school. This year's honorees are:
Ina G. Fernandez, '74College of Business Administration
President and CEO of Fern Capital, Inc., since 2015, Fernandez was named a Crain’s Detroit Business American Dreamer for her commitment to giving back. She is a board member of many Detroit organizations including the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) and is on the finance committee of the Motown Museum.
Larry Washington, '68, '69College of Engineering & Science
As the corporate vice president for sustainability, environment, health and safety for Dow Chemical, Washington was on the forefront of corporate environmental stewardship. In his 37 years with the company, he spearheaded many improvements toward increasing transparency both internally and externally.
Renay L. Gagleard, ’88, ’90, ’09, ’10, ’15College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing
A highly respected hospital administrator, Gagleard is a doctor of Nursing Practice and directs Women and Children’s Services, Pain and Palliative Care, Nursing Education and Advanced Practice Providers Service at St. Joseph Oakland Hospital. She is the recipient of the region’s highest nursing honor, the Nightingale Award.
Pamela Carter, '71College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Carter served the state of Indiana as deputy chief of staff and executive assistant for health policy and human services. She was the first Black woman to be elected state attorney general in the United States.
William R. Chase, '72School of Dentistry
Chase has treated more than 10,000 underserved patients overseas in more than 50 years as a practicing dentist. He also volunteers around the world to teach dentists the latest techniques and practices to better serve their patients.
Hon. Terrance A. Keith, '84School of Law
Keith was appointed to the Wayne County Probate Court by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2010 and has since won re-election. He founded the Straker Bar Association in 1990 to promote legal practice opportunities for lawyers of color in Oakland County and has received several honors for his contributions to the legal profession.
Stephen Vogel, '70, '75School of Architecture & Community Development
Vogel was the dean of the School of Architecture at òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ for 18 years, and is largely responsible for the School’s mission of engagement in service to urban neighborhoods and building sustainable communities. He co-founded the internationally-known Detroit Collaborative Design Center, which works with nonprofit civic and community organizations.
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2023
òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ is proud to announce its .

Agnes Bongero '63
College of Health ProfessionsWilliam Bousquette '58, '62
College of Business AdministrationThe Hon. Maura Corrigan '73
òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ LawFaye Nelson '75, '80
College of Liberal Arts & EducationRichard Nykiel D.D.S. '78
òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ DentalMichael Okoroafor '82
College of Engineering & ScienceSuchitra Reddy '91
School of Architecture & Community Development -
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2022

Associate Professor
University of Michigan
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning
School of Architecture & Community Design
Former Chief Creative Officer
McDonald’s Corporation
College of Liberal Arts & Education
President & CEO
Neighborhood Service Organization
College of Health Professions
Regional President (Ret.)
Kaiser Foundation Health of Ohio
School of Law
Consulting Director
Donnelly Penman & Partners
College of Business Administration
President
Ryntz & Associates, LLC
College of Engineering & Science
Adjunct Professor (Ret.)
University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ School of Dentistry
School of Dentistry -
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2021
, Senior Vice President (Ret.), Marathon Petroleum Company LLC
College of Engineering & Science, Chief Operating Officer, Beaumont Farmington
College of Health Professions,Technical Account Manager (Ret.), Microsoft Corp
College of Liberal Arts & Education, Managing Partner, Frederick Fisher & Partners
School of Architecture, Owner/Founding Member, Johnson Law PLC
School of Law, Affiliate Professor, University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ
School of Dentistry, Partner (Ret.) Deloitte & Touche LLP
College of Business Administration -
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2019

Richard Kunnath ’71 — College of Engineering & Science
Allan Warnick, D.D.S. ’64 — School of Dentistry
Kathleen Reehil ’67 — School of Architecture
Janet Robinson ’69 — College of Health Professions
Arlyce Seibert ’71 — College of Liberal Arts & Education
John Lewis, ’74 — College of Business Administration
Ralph McDowell ’86 — School of Law
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2018

John M. Everly, ’65, ’67 — College of Business Administration
Randal T. Murphy, ’59 — College of Engineering & Science
David F. Claeys, ’99, ’03— College of Health Professions
Thomas E. Page, ’71, ’76 — College of Liberal Arts & Education
Louis 'Gino' Rossetti, ’59 — School of Architecture
Mary Sue Stonisch-Monahan, D.D.S., ’87 — School of Dentistry
The Honorable Gregory E. Mathis, ’88 — School of Law -
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2017

Michael J. Brenner '67 — College of Business Administration
Charles E. Lucas, M.D., '59 — College of Engineering & Science
Mary Maurita Sengelaub, RSM, '49 — College of Health Professions
John P. Hayes '71 — College of Liberal Arts & Education
Rainy Hamilton, Jr. '78, '79 — School of Architecture
Carl E. Misch, D.D.S. '73 — School of Dentistry
Charles R. Rutherford '53, '57 — School of Law -
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2016

James H. Timberlake ‘74
Partner, KieranTimberlake Associates
Philadelphia, PA
School of ArchitecturePhyllis E. Peters Look ‘51
Retired Director of Professional Standards
Deloitte & Touche
College of Business AdministrationMeredith R. Phillips ’94, ’97
Chief Information Privacy & Security Officer
Henry Ford Health System
College of Health ProfessionsMichael A. Carter Sr. ’72, '78
Managing Partner
Pinnacle Construction Partners, LLC
Nashville, TN
College of Liberal Arts & EducationHenry A. Nickol ’55
Retired Vice President & General Manager for
Vehicle Operations,North American Operations
Ford Motor Company
College of Engineering & ScienceEugene A. Gargaro, Jr. ‘67
Legal Counsel and Officer
Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation
School of LawRichard M. Golden, D.D.S. ‘71
President & Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Golden Laser Dental
School of Dentistry -
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2015
photo:Brian D. Cloyd ’73, ’76
Vice President, Global Corporate Relations, Steelcase Inc.
College of Liberal Arts & EducationThe Honorable Anthony J. Fiorella, Jr. ’61, ’66
Retired Housing Court Judge, Civil Court, City of New York
School of LawJohn C. ’79 and Nancy G. ’83 Kennedy
President and CEO, Autocam Medical
Quality Analyst, Autocam Corporation
College of Business AdministrationJeanette Wrona Klemczak ’65
Retired Chief Nurse Executive, State of Michigan
College of Health ProfessionsWalter Knysz, Jr., D.D.S. ’75
Chairman of the Board, UnifiedSmiles
School of DentistryDr. Derrick M. Kuzak ’73, ’74, ’76
Retired Group VP, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company
College of Engineering & ScienceSteven M. Pagnotta '74, ’76
President & CEO, Bradford Companies
School of Architecture -
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2014
Emil Brolick ’69, ‘72
President & CEO
The Wendy’s Company
College of Business Administration
(See related Detroit Free Press article)John DiBiaggio, DDS, ‘58
Former President Tufts University, Michigan State University, University of Connecticut
School of DentistryPhilip Kinsella, ‘58
Partner, KRJDA, LLC Architects
School of ArchitectureFrederick M. Seibert, ’69, ‘73
Owner & President
Preece, Inc.
College of Liberal Arts & EducationNancy Susick, MSN, RN, ‘86
Senior Vice President, Beaumont Health System
President, Beaumont Hospital, Troy
College of Health ProfessionsWilliam C. Young, ‘64
President, Absopure Water Co.
Chairman/CEO, Plastipak Holdings,
Chairman, Clean Tech, Inc.
College of Engineering & ScienceBrian Zahra, ‘87
Justice, Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Hall of Justice
School of Law -
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2005-2010
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
2005 Jim Padilla, '69, '70
2006 John '79 and Nancy '83 Kennedy
2007 Elmore Leonard '50
2008 Emil Brolick '69, '72
2009 Charlie Rutherford '53, '57
2010 Maureen A. Fay, OP, Ph.D. '6The Founders Award
2005 Tom Angott '49
2006 Bill Young '64
2007 Tom Denomme '61
2008 Dick Kughn
2009 John Lobbia '64
2010 Warren Loranger