Making the Grade

May 4, 2017

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By Matt Wolfe

2017 Automotive Hall of Fame Inductee Ed Welburn is staying plenty busy in his retirement. In addition to his Induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame in July, the recently retired head of General Motors Global Design will be awarded with an honorary doctorate of Fine Arts from The College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, Michigan.

Welburn will receive this honor in conjunction with acclaimed artist Brenda Goodman, a native Detroiter who has received numerous accolades including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts. “CCS takes great pleasure in recognizing Ed Welburn’s and Brenda Goodman’s achievements in their respective fields” said CCS President Richard L. Rogers. “They both exemplify the unwavering enthusiasm, innovation and drive that represents the spirit of CCS.”

Welburn and Goodman will be awarded their honorary degrees at the CCS Commencement ceremony at the Detroit Opera House on May 11, where Welburn also be a guest speaker. Welburn had a successful 44-year career at General Motors that culminated in his role as vice president of Global Design, a position he held for 13 years before his retirement in July 2016.

Welburn has been an active leader at CCS in various capacities since 2009. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees, he was also the guest juror for the CCS’s alumni exhibition, which provides vital scholarship funds to current CCS students. The Automotive Hall of Fame is proud to be inducting Ed Welburn into its ranks this year not only for his contributions to automotive design, but also to the next generation of artists who will shape our vehicles.

Ed Welburn will be Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame with the class of 2017 on July 20 at Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. Click here to learn more

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