A former top diplomat will be the featured speaker at the College of William & Mary’s 2015 commencement ceremony.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will deliver remarks and receive an honorary doctor of public service degree at the event, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 — a change from the traditional Sunday ceremony.
“It will be grand to have Secretary Rice speak to the Class of 2015 at Commencement,” William & Mary President Taylor Reveley said in a news release. “Condoleezza Rice broke barriers of gender and race while serving at the most senior levels of our national government. She has also had a very distinguished career in the academy as a teacher, scholar and administrator. Few equal her experience in both public affairs and higher education.”
Rice served as National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush, as and Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009. She was the first black woman to lead the Department of State.
An expert on the Soviet Union, Rice has been on the faculty of Stanford University since 1981, and served as the university’s provost from 1993 to 1999. She also served on the National Security Council for President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1991.
“We worked closely together in the Cabinet and I know she cares deeply about the future of our country,” William & Mary Chancellor Robert Gates, who served with Rice in George W. Bush’s cabinet, said in a news release. “That future begins with the next generation of leaders from William & Mary. I look forward to her message to the graduates.”
Rice was involved in a controversy in May 2014 after students and faculty members at Rutgers University in New Jersey protested her selection as the university’s commencement speaker. Rice ultimately declined the invitation, and was replaced by comedian and television host Bill Maher.
The scheduling of commencement activities broke from tradition, moving the ceremony from a Sunday to a Saturday.
Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler said in a news release the change was made by the college’s Commencement Policy Committee to accommodate departmental ceremonies — when students receive their diplomas — which had also been held Sundays.
“Several departments had outgrown their regularly scheduled spaces or rain locations, making scheduling difficult,” Ambler said. “The new schedule not only helps solve our space issue, but also provides an opportunity to enhance some signature weekend events.”
A full guide to the commencement weekend activities is available online at William & Mary’s website.
