The University of Dallas announced that John R. Lee, current CEO of North American National Risk Services, will address graduates during its Spring graduate commencement for the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at the Irving Bible Church; and 148 graduates will cross the stage, turning from students into University of Dallas alumni.

Lee attended the University of Dallas in the late 1950s for two semesters before transferring to Southern Methodist University to complete his degrees in business and math. John has many fond memories of the University of Dallas, including former Vice President Academic Affairs Rev. Msgr. Edward R. Maher, and the Cistercians who he said “really increased the academic rigor. ”

"John R. Lee is the perfect example of success. His accomplishments are the things our college graduates aspire for before and after leaving the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business,” said Interim Dean Brett Landry of the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business. “We are proud that our graduates have a practice-based business education that has provided them the right skills to achieve their own successful careers."

Professionally, Lee has spent 50 years in the insurance industry founding and managing companies that specialize in the design and implementation of employee benefits plans, charitable programs, and management pay strategies. He is currently the CEO of North American National Risk Services after spending thirty five years as the CEO of Management Compensation Group.

At this year’s commencement, there are 83 graduates with a Master of Business Administration; 64 Master of Science graduates in various concentrations; and one dual Master of Science and Master of Business Administration in finance.

Michael Lewis, MBA ’11, financial planner at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and chairman of the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business Alumni Committee, will also be speaking at this year’s commencement for the business college. Lewis serves on the board of numerous nonprofit and civic organizations such as Opening Doors for Women in Need, SteerFW, Leadership Fort Worth, and the Economic Empowerment Committee of the Dallas Urban League of Young Professionals.