Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics and New York Times bestselling author, will give the 2024 Utah Valley University (UVU) commencement speech and receive an honorary doctorate of business degree on May 2 at 6:30 pm in the UCCU Center on UVU’s Orem Campus.
“Jamie Kern Lima is a big star in the firmament of dreamers and doers,” said Astrid S. Tuminez, president of UVU. “Most people know her as a successful cosmetics executive, but she has also been a Denny’s waitress, struggling entrepreneur, and a sufferer of rejections. Her story of battling years of what she calls ‘self-doubt, body-doubt, and God-doubt,’ will inspire our students,” said Tuminez. “Her grit and success embody the Wolverine spirit!”
Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: Jamie Kern Lima
Lima is an entrepreneur who founded IT Cosmetics in her living room and later sold it to L’Oréal for $1.2 billion. She is on the Forbes list of Richest Self-Made Women. She is also the author of the New York Times bestseller “Believe IT: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable,” and recently released a new book “Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life.” She is a highly sought-after speaker passionate about inspiring women, girls, and future entrepreneurs.
Lima is an active philanthropist who has funded leadership training in more than 100 prisons and shelters across the United States and has donated over $40 million in products and funds to help women face the effects of cancer with confidence. She is donating 100% of her author proceeds from her books “Believe IT” and “Worthy.”
In addition, business leader Wilford W. Clyde will receive an honorary doctorate of business degree, and UVU/NBA basketball legend Ronnie Price will receive an honorary doctorate of the university degree.
“Wilford and Ronnie embody UVU’s mission of student success, and we are honored to have them part of our commencement celebration,” said Rick Nielsen, chair, UVU Board of Trustees. “UVU is where it is today because of Wilford’s innovative leadership, service, and generosity, and Ronnie’s relentless pursuit of excellence both on and off the court. Both are inspiring examples for our students of what hard work, determination, and dreams can lead to.”
Honorary Degree Recipient: Wilford W. Clyde
Wilford W. Clyde serves as the chair of Clyde Companies, Inc., a premier critical infrastructure and construction services provider in the Intermountain West.
He was named Clyde Companies president in 2001 and led a major expansion, acquiring over 40 businesses and moving annual revenue from $200 million to nearly $2.5 billion. Clyde Companies, Inc. now includes subsidiaries WW Clyde, Geneva Rock, Sunroc, Sunpro, Beehive Insurance, Bridgesource, and GWC Capital.
Clyde’s involvement at UVU began in the mid-1980s when he started the Wolverine Booster Club. He later became a member of the UVU Foundation Board and co-chaired the second annual UVU President’s Scholarship Ball with his wife Natalie.
In 1992, Clyde was appointed to the UVU Board of Trustees and served as chairman from 1998-2000. After this, he co-chaired the UVU President’s National Advisory Board until 2010, when he was appointed to the Utah State Board of Regents and served for 12 years.
While Clyde was a regent, UVU became the largest university in the state. He served on the Finance and Capital Facilities Committee, helping UVU get approval and funding for many new buildings on campus. Under his direction, Clyde Companies donated $1 million to establish the Clyde Institute of Construction Management at UVU and built Clyde Field, UVU’s soccer field.
“With its focus on excellence, UVU has grown into a crucial engine for higher education and our community,” said Clyde. “I witnessed that remarkable growth while serving many years as a trustee and regent, so it is incredibly meaningful to be recognized with a doctorate.”
Clyde has served in many leadership capacities, including as the mayor of Springville, Utah for two terms. He is married to Natalie Egbert and has four daughters and 19 grandchildren. He enjoys skiing, traveling, fishing, and boating with his family.
Honorary Degree Recipient: Ronnie Price
Former UVU standout Ronnie Price, who enjoyed a 12-year NBA career, retired from the basketball league in 2018 and is living in North Salt Lake, Utah with his wife Jenni and their three children.
Price, a UVU basketball Hall of Famer, played three seasons with the Wolverines from 2002 to 2005 under head coach Dick Hunsaker. His first season in Orem was UVU’s last season as a junior college.
He averaged 24.3 points per game during his senior season, ranking third in the NCAA in scoring. He was voted All-District 8 team by the United States Basketball Writers Association and was named the NCAA Division I Independent Player of the Year.
Price led the Wolverines to the NCAA Division I Provisional Championship in a last-second win at Florida Gulf Coast and earned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award. Following the season, Price was named to the NCAA Division I All-Independent Team.
Following his career at UVU, Price signed with the Sacramento Kings, becoming the first player to go directly from UVU to the NBA. He then played for the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Oklahoma City Thunder then finished his career with the Suns.
His wife Jenni Price said, “Ronnie knows the necessity of 100% effort and perseverance as well as the value of versatility, humility, and dogged determination.”
Price began his collegiate career at Nicholls State University in 2001, but transferred to Utah Valley University in 2002. His high school jersey was retired at Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas.
He graduated from UVU in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in university studies. His wife Jenni said, “He loves speaking to and encouraging kids toward hard work, dedication, and faith. Today, Ronnie is passionate about service and giving back to the community in every way, though if ever asked what he does, he is quick to reply, ‘I’m just a dad.’”
About Utah Valley University
At Utah Valley University, we believe everyone deserves the transforming benefits of high-quality education — and it needs to be affordable, accessible, and flexible. With opportunities to earn everything from certificates to master’s degrees, our students succeed by gaining real-world experience and developing career-ready skills. We continue to invite people to come as they are and leave ready and prepared to make a difference in the world.
For more information, visit UVU’s Newsroom website for fact sheets, maps, leadership bios, history, photos, b-roll, filming policies, and a list of interview-ready faculty experts at https://www.uvu.edu/newsroom/#.
