On March 21, DU publicized the graduate and undergraduate Commencement ceremony speakers for this June’s graduation. Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton and daughter of Josef Korbel, will deliver the undergraduate ceremony address, and Susana Cordova, DU alumna (BA ‘88) and acting superintendent of Denver Public Schools (DPS), will deliver the graduate ceremony address.
Each year, DU awards around three people with honorary degrees—including the commencement speakers and whoever else the Board of Trustees decides upon. This year, in addition to Sec. Albright receiving a doctorate in public service and Ms. Cordova receiving a doctorate in education, Jane Hamilton, retired volunteer member of the board for 39 years and the name behind DU’s Hamilton Recital Hall and Hamilton Gymnasium, will also receive an honorary degree.
According to Claire Brownwell, special assistant to the Chancellor who works with graduations, events and the Board of Trustees, “DU has a very open system: anyone can submit a nomination for a speaker… the Chancellor loves receiving student nominations.”
Brownwell explained that Sec. Albright was a student request from a few years ago, but her schedule took a few years to line up perfectly. Ms. Cordova was also nominated by a member of the DU community.
2016 will be only the third time in DU’s commencement history that all honorary degrees are awarded to women. The first was in 1939—with Anne Evans, Mary Dean Reed, and Florence Rena Sabin—and the second was in 2014—with Linda Childears and Donna Lynne. Additionally, 2016 is exactly 40 years after Sec. Albright’s father, Josef Korbel, was awarded with his honorary degree.
“This all truthfully happened very organically and naturally,” Brownwell explained, referring to the coincidences that resulted from DU’s unique nomination process. “I think we are just really pleased that these women will be back on our DU campus.”
The undergraduate Commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, June 4 and the graduate Commencement ceremony will be held Friday, June 3, both in Magness Arena.
