Michael Phelps Being Considered for Honorary Degree at University of Michigan
According to multiple reports, 28-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps has been nominated to receive an honorary degree from the University of Michigan at the school’s spring commencement. Michigan’s Board of Regents will vote on bestowing honorary degrees to Phelps and three others during a March 19 meeting. If approved, as expected, Phelps would receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Following the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Phelps followed his longtime coach Bob Bowman to Ann Arbor, Michigan, as Bowman took the head-coaching role at the University of Michigan. Representing Club Wolverine, Phelps took some classes at Michigan while working toward the 2008 Olympic Games, where he captured a record eight gold medals, seven in world-record time.
During his career, Phelps competed in five Olympic Games and won 23 gold medals. An inductee to the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Phelps has been a leading advocate for mental health since retiring after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
In addition to Phelps, Michigan’s Board of Regents is considering honorary degrees for Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian human rights lawyer who won the 2003 Nobel Peace Price, and Ronald Weiser, a businessman who has donated more than $150 million to the school. Also nominated is Ingeborg Hochmair-Desoyer, who enhanced cochlear implants for those with hearing loss.