Longtime benefactor Jim Hudak (MPP ‘71) has been recognized as one of the University of Michigan’s most dedicated fundraising volunteers with the 2024 David B. Hermelin Award for Fundraising Volunteer Leadership. Hudak is one of five recipients this year, which honors the memory of Detroit-area entrepreneur and philanthropist David Hermelin (BBA ‘58, HLLD ‘00).
Hudak’s dedication to the Ford School of Public Policy is exemplified through his long-serving tenure and leadership on the Ford School Committee and his generous philanthropy. He has served in several campaign leadership roles, including recently joining the Look to Michigan Campaign Leadership Council. He has encouraged others to support the Ford School in multiple ways, from Giving Blueday challenges to honorific gifts for former deans. His own gifts have benefited student support, building construction, programmatic support, and endowing the James B. Hudak Professorship in Health Policy.
“Jim embodies the passion, dynamism, and spirit of generosity that the Hermelin Award inspires, and his personal commitment to both the mission of the Ford School and the University of Michigan is truly exemplary,” said Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes. “The Ford School would not be what it is today without his leadership and service.”
While finishing his undergraduate degree in economics at Yale, Hudak saw a poster: “Do you want to solve impossible public policy issues?” The ad was for a new master’s program at the University of Michigan. His answer–was yes! He came to Ann Arbor with his wife and their new baby in the fall of 1969; a HUD Fellowship helped with tuition and provided a stipend. He went on to devote his successful career to improving health policy.
Hudak serves as operating partner at RiverGlade Capital. He is the former Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paradigm Outcomes. Prior to his time at Paradigm, Hudak was chief administrative officer at CRC Health Group, and spent many years at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) and ultimately was global managing partner of the Healthcare Practice. He was executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group and Corporate Chief Information Officer and Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary United Behavioral Health.