Regents confer 'Regent Emeritus' title on Ron Weiser and honor his philanthropy

The University of Michigan Board of Regents formally recognized outgoing Regent Ron Weiser for his service and philanthropy during the meeting.

President Ono and multiple regents recounted Weiser’s background: a 1966 alumnus who founded McKinley Associates, Inc., served as U.S. ambassador to the Slovak Republic (2001–2005) and has been a major benefactor to the university. President Ono and others credited Weiser with founding or supporting nine centers and institutes at the university and cited recent commitments including a $10,000,000 gift for an institute for civil discourse and a $25,000,000 gift to establish the Weiser Family Center for Breast Cancer at the Rogel Cancer Center. President Ono stated the Weiser family has committed more than $200,000,000 to the university.

Regent White read a resolution expressing the Regents’ “heartfelt appreciation” and conferred the honorary title “Regent Emeritus.” Several regents offered personal tributes about Weiser’s mentorship, philanthropy and lasting impact on campus.

The recognition was recorded as a formal resolution read into the record; no vote to approve the resolution was contested during the session as the reading was followed by unanimous expressions of gratitude.