As part of bestowing an honorary doctorate, President Nancy Zimpher "hoods" spring commencement speaker Myron "Mike" Ullman, Bus '69, chairman and CEO of the JCPenney Co. Early in his career, Ullman had been vice president of business affairs at UC, serving under President Henry Winkler (pictured in the burgundy robe), A&S '38, MA (A&S) '40, HonDoc '87.

In June 2006, about 4,000 Bearcats began their lives as UC alumni with some expert advice from one of their most accomplished fellow graduates, the current chairman and CEO of JCPenney Co. Myron "Mike" Ullman, Bus '69, was the All-University Commencement speaker.

Early in his career, he was vice president for business affairs at UC. Today he heads a corporation with 1,050 department stores and annual revenues of more than $18 billion. He is also chairman of the board of Mercy Ships International and a board member of the Starbucks Coffee Co. Ullman has served as chairman and CEO of the world's largest travel retailer, DFS Group; director of Paris-based LVMH Moet Hennessy -- Louis Vuitton; as well as chair and CEO of R.H. Macy & Co., which he led out of bankruptcy.

As the commencement speaker, Ullman didn't give a keynote address in the traditional sense. Demonstrating his trademark authenticity, he spontaneously entertained a range of student-submitted questions as offered onstage by outgoing student body president Andrew Burke.

Because more than 4,000 degrees were conferred in the spring, commencement was divided into two ceremonies so that each graduate could be called by name and congratulated on stage by President Zimpher. One of the oldest commencement traditions still exists -- the ivy chain that leads the processional.

On grads' job prospects: "If you show a willingness to work hard, use your intelligence and know the difference between right and wrong — what we call integrity — you're already at the top of your class."

On managing people: "It's really about helping others to be successful. The more you focus on how they're succeeding, the more your enterprise will succeed."

On being effective leaders: "Have an inspiring vision and people will follow you. Be true to your word so that people can trust you. The more open and honest you are about yourself, the more open and honest people will be with you. Reward those working the hardest and doing the best job -- and let those who aren't know it. Telling them the truth is the ultimate compliment."

On real-world learning: "Don't be afraid to take risks as long as you think you're learning something. We learn the most when we're most at risk, sacrificing the most and reaching out to others."

At the ceremony, President Nancy Zimpher hooded Ullman with an honorary doctorate — a crowning achievement from a university that also gave him the Taft Medal, the alumni association's highest honor, in '93 and the Carl Lindner Medal for Outstanding Business Achievement in '02. President Ronald Reagan had also appointed him a White House Fellow from '81-82

A group of outstanding undergraduate women wearing white gowns have carried the ivy every year since 1903. This year, senior class officers selected the six women. (See the photo of the 1916 ivy chain.)

• Daniel Carmichael, attorney for the law firm of Baker & Daniels, Pharm '65, JD '68
• Bernard Gert, professor, intellectual and moral philosophy; adjunct professor, psychiatry; Dartmouth; A&S '56
• Eva Maddox, principal, Perkins + Will| Eva Maddox Branded Environments, DAAP '66
• George Schaefer Jr., president, CEO, Fifth Third Bank
• Steven Wilson, president, CEO, VNU Advisory Services, A&S '66, MBA '68.

Welcome to campus and here's your degree
An alum with designs on the future
Reunion weekend: transformation and nostalgia
Links to all alumni in this issue