Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University alumnus and distinguished community financial executive Michael Pugh will serve as the University’s commencement speaker at the winter graduation ceremony on December 14. Pugh will also receive an honorary doctoral degree in Commercial Science at the event. The University’s Board of Regents approved his selection on June 20.

Michael Pugh assumed the role of chief executive officer at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation in October 2023. With over 30 years of banking experience, he has been a strong advocate for expanding access to capital for underserved families, businesses, and communities. During his decade-long tenure at Carver, a Harlem-based institution and the nation’s largest publicly traded African-American-operated bank with over $720 million in assets, he led significant initiatives.

Earlier in his career, Pugh was a senior vice president at Capital One, N.A., managing 75 banking centers and $3 billion in deposits across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. He also served as a senior vice president at Citizens Financial Group, overseeing retail banking in Michigan and Indiana with responsibility for 67 banking centers.

A native of Detroit, Pugh graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in health care administration. His interest in community finance began while working as a bank teller to support himself through college. Pugh has since volunteered in various leadership roles with organizations such as The New York Bankers Association, The Economic Club of New York, the Community Development Bankers Association, and the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development.

For more information about the December 2024 commencement ceremony, please visit the EMU commencement webpage.

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees across various disciplines. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University or to stay updated on news and announcements, visit EMU Today.