Denise Ilitch
Regent Denise Ilitch, a Democrat from Bingham Farms, was elected to the University’s Board of Regents in 2008.
Ilitch graduated from the University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree and earned a law degree from the University of Detroit in 1980.
In addition to serving as the president of Ilitch Enterprises, Ilitch is the owner of Denise Ilitch Designs, the owner and publisher of Ambassador Magazine, and counsel at Clark Hill PLC. Ilitch is the former president of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. – the company that manages Little Caesar Enterprises, the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers and Olympia Entertainment.
Ilitch is the recipient of the American Red Cross’s Clara Barton Award, the B’nai B’rith International Great American Traditions Award, and was named the 2007 Alumnus of the Year by the University of Detroit Mercy Law School.
She has served on the board of the Detroit Branch of the NAACP, Major League Baseball and was a Detroit Red Wings Alternate Governor for the National Hockey League.
Recent articles
Incumbent Deitch, newcomer Ilitch elected to University Board of Regents
BY CAITLIN SCHNEIDER
Two Democrats were elected to the eight-member University of Michigan Board of Regents last night, maintaining the board's current partisan balance. Incumbent Larry Deitch (D–Bingham Farms) was elected to his third term as regent and Detroit businesswoman Denise Ilitch (D–Bingham Farms) was elected to her first term.
Detroit lawyer, entrepreneur aims to apply business sense to Board of Regents
BY CAITLIN SCHNEIDER
The role of a regent might seem like a departure from Denise Ilitch's entrepreneurially oriented career as a lawyer, magazine publisher and jewelry designer. But she says the position would allow her to work on issues that matter to her. “I’d like to keep Michigan kids in Michigan and make education as affordable as possible," she said.
