Oakland University wishes to recognize Ms. Margaret Allesee for her transformative accomplishments as a leading humanitarian.  She demonstrates “distinguished accomplishments and service within the scope of the arts, letters, sciences, professions, and public service as recognized and supported by the University.” 

Margaret Allesee is a well-known philanthropist whose generosity has touched the lives of many individuals in southeast Michigan and beyond in the areas of education, healthcare and the arts.  She has been recognized as Michigan Humanitarian of the Year and has received numerous awards including the Project Hope Lifetime Achievement Award, the American Lung Association Women’s Committee Volunteer Award, and the United Way Heart of Gold Award.  She has served on numerous boards in Southeast Michigan including the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Michigan Opera Theatre, Hospice of Michigan Foundations, Wayne State University Foundation, and the Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum.

Since 1969, Ms. Allesee has supported Oakland University and its programs.  She is a current member of the Board of Visitors for the School of Nursing and the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble in the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, was a former director of the OU Foundation, and a former Board member for the Meadow Brook Theatre.  She has volunteered for many Oakland University committees and events in her years of service to Oakland University.

Ms. Allesee has endowed a chair in geriatrics and rehabilitation in Oakland University’s nursing program, has supported the OU summer dance program, the OU Dance Theatre and OU Repertory Dance Student Concerts.  Her record of giving to education at Oakland University and beyond is well documented and significant and marks her as a distinguished individual of outstanding achievement.