University of Michigan: President Barack Obama, 5 others, to receive honorary degrees May 1

President Barack Obama won't be the only recipient of an honorary degree at the University of Michigan's spring commencement ceremony May 1.

President Barack Obama

The Associated Press

Five others - including a solar technology pioneer, a jazz musician, and a broadcast journalist - will be among those joining Obama, the spring commencement speaker, on stage to receive honorary degrees, U-M announced at its monthly Board of Regents meeting Thursday.

Recipients will include: Jean Campbell, the founder of the Center for the Education of Women; Ornette Coleman, a jazz musician; Stanford Ovshinsky, the president of Ovshinsky Innovation LLC; Susan Stamberg, a public radio broadcast journalist; and Charles Vest, the president of the National Academy of Engineering.

Obama, Campbell and Vest will receive honorary doctor of laws; Coleman, a doctor of music; Ovshinksy, a doctor of science, and Stamberg, a doctor of humane letters.

According to a University of Michigan press release:

Campbell's life work has centered around advancing the role of women in higher education. She developed the Center for the Education of Women after World War II.Â

Vest also dedicated his career to supporting higher education issues, specifically those related to science and engineering. He is a past president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Coleman, considered a major jazz innovator, recorded "Something Else," the first of many influential albums, in 1958, followed by 20 albums through the 1960s. His experimental, original style challenged the conventions of jazz music.

Ovshinksy created a new area of materials science and physics with the field of "ovonics." Ovshinsky's 400-plus U.S. patents have contributed to new approaches for the uses of hydrogen-fueled vehicles and solar power.

Stamberg is a special correspondent for National Public Radio. Hired by NPR in its first year in 1971, she was the first woman to co-anchor a national nightly news program on "All Things Considered."

Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter