Regent Ron Weiser was honored at the Dec. 5 University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting, marking his final session as a board member. Board Chair Katherine E. White, participating remotely, praised Weiser’s philanthropy and leadership, reading a resolution that commended his service and awarded him the honorary title of regent emeritus. Although Weiser’s regent term concludes, his positive influence on students through philanthropy is growing. President Santa J. Ono announced Weiser’s $10 million commitment to an institute for civil discourse, fostering mutual understanding among diverse campus perspectives.
“Your impact on your alma mater has been absolutely transformational,” Ono stated. “Your leadership and generosity, your service to our country and to our community have had an extraordinary impact and left an indelible imprint on our university.”
Elected in 2016, Weiser served as vice chair in 2018 and chair in 2019. His term ends Dec. 31. “It’s really been a pleasure to serve with all of you and serve this great institution,” Weiser expressed. “(The university has) made a difference in so many people’s lives and it continues to do so. It saves lives, it improves lives, it’s something different than you’ll see any place in the world. So, thank you.”
Regent Denise Ilitch praised Weiser’s service, stating, “You’re a person of service, which you’ve displayed your whole career. You’re a person of generosity, which is beyond remarkable.” Weiser’s involvement in nonprofit boards includes democratic engagement, medical research, and the arts. He was U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic from 2001-05.
Weiser co-founded nine centers and institutes at U-M through his financial gifts. He is a trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and supports the pediatric brain cancer center at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.
Regent remarks
Mark Bernstein
“You have become a dear friend and a mentor and every place you go on this campus, I always say if a development officer meets you at a unit or a location on this campus and they don’t walk away with at least a million dollars, they should find another job.”
Paul Brown
“I’ve referred to different regents in the past as ‘being on the Mount Rushmore of Regents’ through the history of this institution. To say Ron is on that is an understatement, because regent is just one category of which Ron belongs on the Mount Rushmore of our graduates. As a business person, you created a billion-dollar business. As a politician, you led your party at this state. In health, the several institutes you’ve created (at U-M) and the impact they’ve had. As a public servant, you’ve been an ambassador. As a donor, I think you’re number two in the history of this institution. So, to say you’re on the Mount Rushmore is an understatement.”
Sarah Hubbard
“You helped me join this club in a way that is certainly unforgettable, and the ability to serve with you and your very stable leadership throughout our time together has been a pleasure and a blessing. I really do also look forward to seeing your continued engagement with the university into the future.”
Michael Behm
“One of the things I find most impressive that you’ve done and you live daily, in addition to everything everyone has talked about so far, is that you are constantly seeking out common ground with those that you might disagree with politically, and I find that incredibly admirable.”
Jordan Acker
“I just remember thinking about … the last six years we’ve served together and how much I’ve learned from you and how much I admire you. And one of the things that I think is lost when we talk about these institutes and second-largest donor, all these things. But that pales in comparison to the things that people don’t know about. The meetings that we’ve had with UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint over the years where we’re talking about a program that need a startup, that needs $75,000 or less. And Ron, without thinking, says, ‘Yeah, I got it. Let’s start this program. Let’s do it.’ And no one ever hears about it.”
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