Frank J. Bisignano came to Baker University nearly five decades ago as a student-athlete from Brooklyn, New York. On Wednesday, he returned to the Baldwin City campus to receive one of the university’s highest honors.
Baker University awarded Bisignano an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during a special ceremony at Rice Auditorium, recognizing his distinguished career in business and public service and his enduring connection to the university.
Bisignano currently serves as the 18th Senate-confirmed Commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) and concurrently as the first-ever Chief Executive Officer of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Prior to entering public service, he spent more than four decades in financial services and technology.
Yet, Bisignano has frequently traced the beginning of that journey back to Baldwin City. He arrived from Brooklyn to Baker in 1977 to study business administration and compete as a member of the Wildcats men’s bowling team, where he earned All-American honors.
Bisignano’s career has spanned leadership roles across banking, financial technology and federal service. Before joining the U.S. Social Security Administration, he served as chairman and CEO of Fiserv and previously led First Data, including its $2.6 billion initial public offering in 2015, the largest IPO that year, and its eventual combination with Fiserv. Earlier in his career, he served as the co-Chief Operating Officer for JPMorgan Chase and the Chief Executive Officer of its Mortgage Banking unit. Bisignano also was the Chief Administrative Officer for the Corporate and Investment Bank at Citigroup and concurrently its deputy head of technology and operations.
He was sworn in as Social Security Commissioner in May 2025. In October 2025, he also assumed responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the IRS as the agency’s first CEO while continuing to lead Social Security.
During Wednesday’s ceremony, Bisignano reflected on his journey and the role Baker played in preparing him for the opportunities and challenges that followed.
“It is great to be back at Baker to receive an honorary degree from an institution that was a huge steppingstone for my professional career,” said Bisignano. “I like to say that attending Baker is on the list of the best things to happen to me as it allowed me to expand my horizons outside of the Northeast. The lessons I learned on campus, whether inside the classroom or through athletic competitions, have served me well throughout my career in both the private and public sectors. I am immensely proud to be a member of the Baker community, and I am grateful for Dr. Fournier’s friendship and his steady leadership of our great university.”
Following the conferral of the honorary degree, Bisignano participated in a conversation and question-and-answer session with current Baker students, faculty, staff, alumni and other members of the Baker community.
“One of the things that makes Frank’s story so special is that no matter where his career has taken him, Baker has remained an important part of who he is,” said Baker University President Dr. Jody Fournier. “He has built an extraordinary career while continuing to value the relationships and opportunities that helped shape him. It is a privilege to welcome Frank back, recognize all he has accomplished and give our students the opportunity to learn from someone who once stood where they stand today.”
Wednesday’s visit marked another chapter in Bisignano’s longstanding relationship with the university.
He returned to Baker in 2024 to deliver the undergraduate commencement address and receive the university’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. During that visit, he described his time at Baker as “a defining moment in my life” and reflected on how moving from Brooklyn to Baldwin City broadened his perspective and prepared him for what came next.
“This place has been super special,” Bisignano told graduates during the 2024 ceremony.
Bisignano has remained connected to the university throughout his career; Baker’s Board of Trustees approved awarding him the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, in recognition of his leadership, public service and continued commitment to the university’s mission.
From a student-athlete who arrived in Kansas unsure where his journey might take him, to a global business leader and public servant, Bisignano’s path has continued to bring him back to the university he credits with helping him get his start.
Learn more about Frank and his time at Baker.
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About Baker University
Founded in 1858 as the first university in Kansas, Baker University is a private institution that educates undergraduate, graduate, adult, and high school students through small classes, innovative instructors, and rigorous coursework. Fortune 500 CEOs, New York Times best-selling authors, and Super Bowl champions all proudly claim Baker as their alma mater. Baker has the highest return on investment among private universities in Kansas, a 99 percent career and graduate school placement rate, and Baker graduates earn the highest average salaries among those from Kansas universities.
