Obama will give the keynote address at the University of Michigan's commencement this spring.

President Barack Obama will be in Ann Arbor this spring giving the keynote speech at this year’s commencement at University of Michigan. University President Mary Sue Coleman had this to say:

“President Obama has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of many students with his inspiring words of hope and change. We are honored to welcome a leader of his distinction and look forward to his message. We could not be happier for the graduates who will celebrate their academic achievements with the president of the United States.”

President Obama will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

This spring’s commencement will be held on May 1st at 10 AM in Michigan Stadium.

President Obama will be the fourth United States president to deliver the commencement address in Ann Arbor. In 2007, former President Bill Clinton gave the address and before him President George H.W. Bush spoke in May 1991. Lyndon Johnson was the first sitting president to address the University’s graduating class when he did in 1964. (via Michigan Daily)

Ronen Sen - India's Ambassador to United States comes to Michigan

The Center for South Asian Studies at the University of Michigan is pleased to announce an October 22, 2008 visit and public lecture by Indian Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen. Ambassador Sen will speak on US/India foreign relations at 6:00 PM at the Alumni Center, located at 200 Fletcher Street. An open reception will follow the talk. Ambassador Sen’s visit helps inaugurate a major new three-year initiative of scholarly programs focused on contemporary South Asia, entitled “The Trehan India Initiative at the University of Michigan.” The initiative is made possible by a generous grant from Ranvir and Adarsh Trehan and the Trehan Foundation.

Ambassador Sen is one of India’s most distinguished senior diplomats. As such, he has lived and served in interesting times. Sen was India’s first Ambassador to a newly configured Russia following the demise of the former Soviet Union (1992-1998), and also served as ambassador to Germany during that country’s tumultuous reunification (1998-2002). Sen’s service in Moscow helped reestablish a longstanding friendship between India and Russia at a time when relations between the two countries were at a low ebb. He helped build a lasting partnership with Russia in part by underscoring a perennially valid set of shared interests between the two—not least among them a fervent Russian appreciation for Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor!

Please mark your calendars for October 22nd and welcome Ambassador Sen to the University of Michigan!

C.K. Prahalad named the top management guru in the world

C.K. Prahalad, the Paul and Ruth McCracken Distinguished University of Michigan Professor of Corporate Strategy has been named the top Management Guru of the World by "Thinkers 50". C.K. Prahalad beat out Bill Gates (ranked 2nd) and Allen Greenspan (ranked 3rd).

Quoting University of Michigan Ross School of Business website:

According to Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove of Suntop Media, not many management thinkers actually follow up important early ideas with genuinely groundbreaking future ideas.

"This is what C.K. Prahalad has managed to do," Crainer said. "His work with Gary Hamel set the strategic agenda of the 1990s. Now, with 'The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid,' he has established the social, entrepreneurial and economic agenda of our times."

C.K. Prahalad's Early Life (via Wikipedia)

Prahalad is one of nine children. His father was a well-known Sanskrit scholar and judge in Madras, India (now Chennai). When he was 19, Prahalad was recruited by the manager of the local Union Carbide battery plant. He worked there for four years. Prahalad calls his Union Carbide experience a major inflection point in his life.

Prahalad then went to the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), where he fell in love with a student at a nearby university. After five years spent trying to win their families' approval, the couple married and left for Harvard University. There Prahalad wrote a PhD thesis on multinational management in just two and a half years. The couple then returned to India, where he taught at the IIMA. But his ideas on global business were under constant attack from nationalists in India. He decided to return to the United States, as an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.

Shanti Project launching a campaign of non-violence through the use of Theater and Acting

Shanti Project affiliated with University of Michigan school of Social work is launching a campaign of non-violence through the use of Theater and Acting.

Quote from their Brochure:

In order to promote nonviolence and peace within our homes and community, we are looking for dynamic individuals to join our groundbreaking theater troupe.

Through the use of theater and other interactive performance elements, troupe members will:

* Develop scenes
* Write scripts
* Engage audiences to spark new conversations
* Pave the way for a lasting societal impact
* Take part in community and program-sponsored events
* Perform across the Southeastern Michigan area

If you are interested (no experience necessary and all ages are welcome) and want to make a difference contact the folks at Shanti Project at 1-888-4-SHANTI or email them at shantiproject[at]umich[dot]edu