Valerie Jarrett, Tom Curley, Erskine Bowles, Wayne Clough, Rajiv Shah and Barbara Krumsiek, will address this spring's commencement ceremonies.
AU announced the speakers on April 17 on their website. Speakers will address the graduates of each individual school:
• Jarrett for Washington College of Law 1 p.m. on May 20
• Curley for School of Communication at 9 a.m. on May 12
• Bowles for School of Public Affairs at 9 a.m. on May 13
• Clough for College of Arts and Sciences at 1 p.m. on May 13
• Shah for School of International Service at 4:30 p.m. on May 12
• Krumsiek for Kogod School of Business at 1 p.m. on May 12
Jarrett is senior adviser to President Barack Obama and chairs the White House Council on Women and Girls. She has held multiple positions in Chicago’s government and practiced law in the private sector.
Curley is the president and CEO of The Associated Press. He will discuss the AP’s shift toward more digital news to adapt to subscribers and the changing world media.
Bowles has previously served as President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff and as president of University of North Carolina. He will discuss the future of politics, drawing on stories from his own experience in the White House.
Shah is the administrator for the United States Agency for International Development. In his position, he has helped advance Obama’s Feed the Future initiative and reform financial parts of USAID.
Smithsonian Institution Secretary Clough will demonstrate the importance of technology to spread knowledge. He will discuss the various ways to improve the arts and sciences.
As a female CEO of Calvert Investments Inc., Krumsiek is passionate about women’s roles in the workplace and social responsibility. She will discuss the positive effect of sustainability on an organization’s financial performance.
All six commencement speakers will receive an honorary doctorate.
Over 3,500 undergraduates, graduate students and law students will receive degrees this spring, according to University Communications and Marketing.
All of the ceremonies will be live-streamed on AU’s website.
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