The honorary doctorate degree is the highest form of recognition offered by Larkin University to individuals of exceptional distinction. It recognizes excellence in the fields of the degrees offered by the University as well as in business and philanthropy.
During our 2024 commencement ceremony, Dr. Rudi Ettrich, President/CEO of Larkin University, conferred honorary doctorates to Dr. Jack Michel and to Dr. Mark Kent. Here are parts of Dr. Ettrich’s longer speech:
“When Dr. Jack Michel came to the United States as a young immigrant from Colombia, there was no easy path to becoming a physician. MDC opened the doors to the US educational system for him and gave a path into health professions. In 1982, Jack Michel transferred to the University of Miami where he received his Medical Doctor degree. Today, without Dr. Michel, our University wouldn’t exist, as in 2013 he decided to establish Larkin University, as a not-for-profit organization with a clear mission to change the demographics in healthcare.”
“Dr. Mark Kent is not only an entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, and a highly sought-after speaker, but he is also a nurse by training with a Master’s in Business Administration from Purdue University. At a very young age, Mark learned the lessons of giving through his home church, St. James Lutheran Church, which assisted many Cubans to safely arrive in the United States. He joined the Larkin Board of Trustees in 2019, then served as the chairman of our Board of Trustees in the key phase of our accreditation process. He is one of our strongest advocates in the community and sets a positive example in supporting the University on various levels.”
