Alumni Weekend 2026: Knights Unite

Alumni Weekend 2026 brought generations of University Liggett School alumni back to campus to reconnect, celebrate shared experiences, and honor the enduring strength of the ULS community.

Weekend highlights included the All Alumni Cocktail Party and Distinguished Alumna Ceremony, as well as reunion gatherings, athletic outings, and special recognition events across campus and the Country Club of Detroit.

Distinguished Alumna: Liz Prus Myers ’88

We were proud to honor Liz Prus Myers ’88 as the 2026 Distinguished Alumna.

Liz is Global Chairman of Investment Banking and Capital Markets at J.P. Morgan and a leader in global finance with more than three decades of experience. She is recognized as one of American Banker’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance and is widely respected for her leadership, mentorship, and commitment to expanding opportunities for future generations.

A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School, Liz has also contributed her time and leadership to organizations including Princeton, Harvard Business School, the Posse Foundation, and New Yorkers for Children.

During Alumni Weekend, she also met with Upper School students to reflect on her ULS experience and discuss the importance of adaptability, communication, and lifelong learning in shaping a career.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest alumni honor at ULS, recognizing graduates whose professional achievement, leadership, and service bring distinction to the school and community.

Golden Knights Reunion

Alumni celebrating their 50th reunion and beyond gathered for the Golden Knights Cocktail Reception at the Country Club of Detroit. The evening featured reconnecting classmates, shared memories, and celebration of milestone reunions, including the Class of 1976.

Celebrating Dr. Phillip Moss

Alumni Weekend also included a special concert celebration honoring Dr. Phillip Moss, marking 41 years of leadership in theater and arts education at ULS.

“Done is Good: Celebrating 41 Years of Dr. Phillip Moss” brought together alumni, students, families, and colleagues for performances spanning decades of ULS theater. Directed by alumni Leonard Sullivan ’97 and J. Oconer Navarro ’00, the program featured music and scenes from OLIVER!, GODSPELL, and other productions, along with tributes and reflections from across the community.

The celebration highlighted Dr. Moss’s impact on generations of students who discovered their voices and confidence through the performing arts. His retirement follows the final curtain of this year’s production of OLIVER!.

Thank you, Dr. Moss, for 41 years of creativity, mentorship, and community.

Alumni Arts Hall of Fame

We were proud to induct two new members into the Alumni Arts Hall of Fame:

• Elizabeth Lesesne Dixon ’75, internationally recognized classical pianist and educator whose career spans solo performance, orchestral collaborations, and nearly four decades of teaching excellence.

• J. Oconer Navarro ’00, acclaimed composer, music director, and writer whose work bridges Broadway, sacred music, and international performance, including groundbreaking compositions performed globally.

Both inductees were celebrated during Alumni Weekend for their artistic achievement and continued connection to the ULS community.

Golf Outing at the Country Club of Detroit

Alumni Weekend began with Knights Unite on the Course, a golf outing at the Country Club of Detroit. Alumni enjoyed a day of connection and friendly competition, hosted by Lore Moran Dodge ’68 GPUS and Bill Shelden ’68 GPUS.

Loyalty Awards

The 2026 Loyalty Awards recognized alumni celebrating milestone reunions who have supported ULS through annual giving for 20 or more years. These recipients were honored for their longstanding commitment to the school and its students.

Share Your Experience

Thank you to all alumni who joined us for Alumni Weekend 2026. We invite you to share feedback to help shape future celebrations.

Take the Alumni Weekend survey and stay connected as a Knight.

KnightsConnect Launch

ULS has launched KnightsConnect, a new alumni networking platform powered by AlumniFire. KnightsConnect allows alumni to reconnect with classmates, explore mentorship and career opportunities, and stay engaged with the ULS community.