Michael Kakos ’58 Named Graduate Commencement Speaker
Noted Philanthropist and Retired Plastics Industry Executive is among the Largest Donors to His Alma Mater
Frederick Bonato, Ph.D., President of the 173-year-old Manhattan University, today announced that Michael John Kakos, a 1958 graduate of the University and noted philanthropist and former executive in the plastics industry, will deliver the keynote address and receive a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, at the University’s Graduate Commencement on May 15, 2026.
Kakos received his BS degree in chemistry from Manhattan followed by an MS in chemistry in 1960 from Niagara University and an MS in Industrial Engineering (1971) from the Stevens Institute of Technology (Stevens). He later received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Stevens in 2024.
Kakos spent his career in the plastics industry beginning in materials research in metals and ceramics. He joined the Celanese Corporation in 1963 where he was involved in engineering thermoplastic raw materials and later moved to commercial positions including sales development, product management, and international marketing, leading to a position in London where he served as Managing Director for Celanese European Marketing Operations. In 1986, he founded Resin Express Ltd. in London, a distributor of plastic pellets produced by major European chemical firms. Resin Express achieved remarkable success, filling a niche in the engineering resins market. The company was sold in 1997 to Ravago, a Belgian company and one of the largest polyolefin traders in Europe.
In October 2022, the School of Arts and Sciences at Manhattan University (now the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences) received a $15 million gift from Kakos and his wife, Aimee Rusinko Kakos, to increase student scholarships and grants, support innovative teaching and research, and enhance and diversify learning opportunities. That gift built on the tremendous philanthropic work at Manhattan University by both John and Aimee Kakos, having funded major initiatives including the Michael ’58 and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Study Abroad Scholarship, the Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Endowed Scholarship for Cardinal Hayes High School graduates, the Kakos Center for Scientific Computing, the Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Endowerd Chair in Science, and a named site in the Raymond W. Kelly ’63 Student Commons.
Stated Dr. Bonato,
“Michael has been and continues to be a towering figure in the history of Manhattan University. His generosity supporting both our students and faculty coupled with his strong belief in the Lasallian Catholic mission of Manhattan make him the ideal candidate to receive this honorary degree.”
Kakos is the holder of several patents and serves on various non-profit museums and classical music organizations boards. He and his wife reside in Winter Park, FL and Latrobe, PA.
***
About Manhattan University
Founded in 1853, Manhattan University is an independent Lasallian Catholic institution located in Riverdale, NY that embraces students of all faiths, cultures, and traditions. The mission of the University is to provide a dynamic student-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings. Manhattan University offers programs that integrate a broad liberal arts education coupled with a concentration in specific disciplines in the arts and sciences with professional preparation in business and engineering, ensuring graduates will excel in their chosen fields. The University consists of the Kakos School of Arts & Sciences, the O’Malley School of Business, and the School of Engineering. For further information, please visit www.manhattan.edu.