Honorary Public Service Degree Celebrates Student Advancement

Published Date May 18, 2026
News Type College News

E. Roe Stamps IV, right, gives the university’s spring commencement address as Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda looks on. (Credit: Logan Wallace)

Philanthropist and private investor E. Roe Stamps IV received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree at Ohio State’s spring commencement ceremony in recognition of his dedication to advancing educational opportunities and his other philanthropic contributions.

Stamps is best known as the co-founder of the Boston-based private equity and venture capital firm Summit Partners and the Stamps Scholars Program, a charitable initiative that provides scholarships to students at over three dozen universities worldwide. At Ohio State, around 50 students each year receive scholarships through the affiliated Stamps Eminence Scholarship Program.

Toward Policy with Purpose

Read about Stamps Eminence Scholar Nina Greenberg, a Glenn College public management, leadership and policy major, and her project to lead students in writing grants for nonprofit organizations.

He holds degrees in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Harvard. 

Following early career experiences in venture capital in Chicago and Boston, he co-founded Summit Partners with Steve Woodsum in 1984, working as a managing director before transferring daily operations to several partners in 2001. Summit Partners currently has $44 billion in assets under management and has invested in over 550 companies.

Stamps is also passionate about investing in education and communities. Beyond the Stamps Scholars Program, he is a trustee emeritus of the Georgia Tech Foundation. He also supports a variety of charities in the Miami region where he resides, including the University of Miami, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.

Stamps, who gave the spring commencement address, shared with graduates four life lessons for success:

  • Continue building your life’s foundation.
  • Figure life out sooner versus later.
  • Join a winning team and contribute to its success. 
  • Safeguard your most valuable asset — your future.

“I would recommend that you invest in yourselves, educationally and financially,” Stamps said. “You’re taking a great step today with this degree, but we all know how rapidly things are changing, so keep up with those changes, either in graduate/professional school, or in whatever way you find possible if you are in the workforce.”   

Learn about past recipients of Ohio State’s Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.