UW Winter Commencement

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John Fisher

A close-up of Michael Finley.

Michael Finley

media release: This year’s winter commencement speaker at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a beloved member of the Badger community — just look to the rafters of the Kohl Center for proof.

Last year, the university retired Michael Finley’s No. 24 jersey, only the third basketball jersey in school history to be hung aloft at the Kohl Center. Finley, a two-time NBA All-Star, left UW as the all-time leading scorer in Wisconsin men’s basketball history. He’s also a high-ranking sports executive, a Hollywood film producer, and the founder of a nonprofit organization that helps children and families reach their full potential.

“It will be such an honor to welcome Michael Finley back to campus, a place where he brought so much joy to Badger fans and left such an impressive legacy,” says Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin. “Mr. Finley is one of our most accomplished alums, on and off the courts. I know he will have a lot to share with this year’s graduates.”

Finley will give the charge to graduates at UW–Madison’s 2023 winter commencement. The ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17 at the Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton St., Madison. Commencement speakers are chosen by the senior class officers in consultation with the Chancellor’s Office.

Gracie Nelson, senior class president, says Finley’s story encompasses the essence of being a true Badger, illustrating the values of hard work, unwavering dedication, and perseverance.

“His accomplishments are not just inspiring but also relatable, as he once stood where our graduating class stands today,” Nelson says. “Michael Finley's story is not just about athletic achievement, but it's about the extraordinary potential that resides within each graduate, waiting to be unlocked. As we prepare to embark on our own unique journeys, his words will undoubtedly resonate deeply, inspiring us to strive for greatness, contribute to our communities, and overcome whatever challenges lie ahead.”

Born and raised in Maywood, Illinois, Finley played for the Badgers from 1991-95. He helped lead the Badgers to the 1994 NCAA tournament — the school's first appearance in the "Big Dance" since 1947. At the time, he set UW–Madison’s all-time leading scoring record with 2,147 points and left UW as the 12th leading scorer in Big Ten history. (He is now second on UW–Madison’s list of all-time highest scorers, after Alando Tucker.)

Finley was selected in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns and was named to the First Team All-Rookie Team. The following year, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he played from 1996-2005 and was a two-time All-Star (2000, 2001). Finley later played for the San Antonio Spurs — winning an NBA championship in 2007 —and the Boston Celtics. He played a total of 15 seasons in the NBA, retiring in 2010.

Due to the NBA draft, Finley left the university before finishing his program of study. In 2014, he completed his bachelor’s degree from UW in agricultural and applied economics.

This fall, Finley began his 10th season in the Mavericks’ front office and his third as assistant general manager and vice president of basketball operations. In his current role, Finley assists owner Mark Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison with all aspects of basketball operations.

In 2003, Finley created the Texas-based Michael Finley Foundation, which works to inspire, develop and enhance the skills of young people and their families and to instill the confidence needed to achieve personal and professional goals.

“My experience at UW helped shape me,” Finley says. “It prepared me for a life as a productive human being trying to make a positive impact on the world.”

In 2009, Finley founded the film production company Follow Through Productions LLC. He is a financier and executive producer of several films, including “The Butler,” starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, and “American Made,” starring Tom Cruise.

Finley resides in Plano, Texas, with his wife and three children.

“My time at UW as a student-athlete was an amazing chapter in my book of life,” Finley says. “To be chosen as the keynote speaker is a tremendous honor that I’m truly grateful for. I’ll do my best to give a true Badger effort and make the class of 2023 proud of selecting me to be a part of this joyous occasion.”

The student speaker:

Jnae Thompson believes everyone has a story. She often thinks of that while walking on campus at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“You pass by so many people, and you have no idea what they’re going through,” says Thompson, of Racine, Wisconsin. “You can assume that some of them are going through difficult times, and you want to say something comforting to them.”

That impulse spurred Thompson to apply to be this year’s student speaker for winter commencement, which will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17 at the Kohl Center.

“I want to uplift the people around me,” says Thompson, who was chosen for the role through a competitive process conducted by the senior class officers, in consultation with the Office of the Chancellor. All winter graduates were eligible to apply.

Thompson believes her own story might help others. She entered UW–Madison as a biochemistry major, determined to become an orthopedic surgeon. “I had my entire four-year plan all worked out,” she says.

But after two years, the passion had ebbed for her career choice, and she was struggling to remain engaged in her coursework. She felt called to a different future, one as a community organizer. Her participation in the George Floyd-related protests of 2020 and her work as an organizer for the Madison-based social justice organization Freedom, Inc., contributed to this awakening. She switched her major to African American studies, with a certificate in gender and women’s studies. It was not an easy transition — she had to reimagine her future and herself. But she looks back with no regrets.

“I went through some failures and missteps, but I learned that I am not just my mistakes,” she says. “I’m so much happier now. As difficult as it was, I genuinely would not have changed anything.”

Chanel Sims, Thompson’s best friend since freshman year, says it was difficult to watch Thompson struggle at times.

“Yet, in the end, it’s a good story because, through all this, she found out who Jnae really is, and that’s a beautiful thing,” says Sims, who graduated last year and now lives in Los Angeles.

As for Thompson being the student speaker for winter commencement, “She’s going to really rock it,” Sims says.

Thompson came to UW–Madison after graduating from The Prairie School, an independent college preparatory school near Racine, where she was a three-sport athlete (track, volleyball and basketball) and played violin in school and community orchestras. The daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Thompson credits her parents with giving her a strong sense of self-worth and the courage to find herself.

Thompson is a recipient of Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which guarantees scholarships and grants to cover tuition and segregated fees for Wisconsin resident students whose annual household adjusted income is $65,000 or less.

“Because of Bucky’s Tuition Promise, the financial burden was completely lifted off me, and I’ve been able to solely focus on my academics and other opportunities to become more financially stable, like jobs and internships,” she says.

Throughout her time on campus, Thompson found comfort and close friends at the Black Cultural Center, where she studied almost daily. “It’s such a welcoming and heartwarming environment,” she says.

Last summer, Thompson interned with Madison365, a local nonprofit news organization where she is now a freelance writer. She also is a data coordinator for Freedom, Inc., and will begin a full-time job with the organization after graduation.

“What I want to stress to other students is that, even in those times of stress, you deserve to be here,” Thompson says. “Take care of yourself. Celebrate yourself.”