EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Ty Weeks, superintendent of Dearborn Heights School District #7, will serve as the speaker at two Eastern Michigan University graduation ceremonies on Saturday, August 13 at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Weeks, a three-time EMU graduate, will receive an honorary doctor of commerce degree as approved by the EMU Board of Regents during its regular meeting today (June 16, 2022).

The day marks a special occasion for Weeks, who received his doctorate during the pandemic and, similar to many other graduates, was not able to attend an in-person ceremony. During the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, he will address graduates from April 2020, August 2020, December 2020, April 2021 and August 2021 classes, who also did not have an in-person ceremony. He will then address the University’s summer graduating class in a ceremony at 1:30 p.m.

Recently appointed as the first Black superintendent of Dearborn Heights Public Schools, Weeks is an experienced administrator with a strong focus on curriculum, instruction and data-driven decision-making. He is known as a community builder dedicated to ensuring equitable teaching and learning opportunities among all students. 

Prior to being named superintendent, Weeks served at Farmington Public Schools as the director of state and federal programs school improvement and safety, Title IX coordinator and an assistant principal. Weeks also served as director of adult education and a principal for the Ann Arbor Public Schools Pathways to Success Academic Campus, among several other educational roles in the Ann Arbor community.

Weeks earned his bachelor’s in secondary education with a focus in history, English and language arts; a master’s in secondary education and a doctorate of philosophy in educational studies. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 15,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up-to-date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.