slides: Central MA’s 2016 College Commencement Speakers
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Sunday, April 24, 2016
GoLocalWorcester Lifestyle Team
The 2016 college commencement season is here, and commencement speakers at colleges and universities in Central Massachusetts are preparing their speeches to present to this year’s graduates and their families.
Commencement speakers are charged with a heady task -- giving new graduates valuable advice and life lessons through inspirational stories, involvement in or interpretation of world-altering events, or personal accounts of overcoming odds
So who will be imparting words of wisdom at this year’s commencement ceremonies?
See the Slideshow Below
Related Slideshow: Central MA Commencement Speakers - 2016
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UMass Medical School
Governor Charlie Baker
Baker was inaugurated on January 8, 2015 s the 72nd Governor of Massachusetts.
Prior to that, Baker was a member of the Weld and Cellucci administrations in the 1990s and helped turn a billion dollar deficit into a surplus, helped create a half million jobs and more.
He was asked to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Servies and then appointed Secretary of Administration of Finance.
In 1998, the National Governors Association recognized his leadership and innovation by presenting him with their Distinguished Service Award.
UMass Medical's Commencement ceremony will take place on June 5.
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Worcester State University
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito
Polito was inaugurated on January 8, 2015 as the 72nd lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.
Prior to that she served as a member of the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen from 1995-1998.
In 2001, she ran for state representative of the 11th Worcester district and won, serving her house district for five terms.
She then ran with gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker as his running mate in 2014.
She will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Administration, Honoris Causa.
Worcester State's Commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 14 at the DCU Center.
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Nichols College
Governor Charlie Baker
Baker was inaugurated on January 8, 2015 s the 72nd Governor of Massachusetts.
Prior to that, Baker was a member of the Weld and Cellucci administrations in the 1990s and helped turn a billion dollar deficit into a surplus, helped create a half million jobs and more.
He was asked to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Servies and then appointed Secretary of Administration of Finance.
In 1998, the National Governors Association recognized his leadership and innovation by presenting him with their Distinguished Service Award.
Baker will receive an honorary doctoral degree in public administration.
Nichols' Commencement will take place on Sunday, May 8 at the DCU Center.
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Clark University
Catalina Escobar, founder and director of the Juan Felipe Gomez Escobar Foundation
Escobar is the founder and director of the Juan Felipe Gomez Escobar Foundation (Juanfe Foundation) which provides healthcare services to the most tragic and disenfranchised communities in Cartagena, Colombia. She created the foundation in 2001.
Prior to that, Escobar graduated from Clark in 1993 with a degree in business administration. She completed an MBA at the INALDE Business School in Bogota.
She will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
Clark's commencement ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 22
PHOTO: Clark.edu
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Assumption College
Dr. Carolyn Woo, CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Woo was named president and CEO of CRS in January of 2012 after a career in higher education.
Prior to CRS, Woo served as the dean of the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, which has been ranked as the number one business school in the country.
Woo took part in the 2014-15 President's Lecture Series at Assumption.
She will receive an Honorary Doctorate.
Assumption's ceremony is set for May 7
PHOTO: Twitter
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Holy Cross
The Honorable Harry Thomas, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe
Thomas serves as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe, the latest stop in his 32 year diplomatic career.
Prior to that, Thomas served as Ambassador to the Philippines from 2010-2013 and to Bangladesh from 2003-05.
Thomas is a Holy Cross alum, graduating in 1978 and majoring in political science.
He will receive an honorary degree.
Holy Cross' commencement ceremony is set for Friday, May 27.
PHOTO: Wikipedia
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Becker College
Emmett Carson Ph.D, CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Carson is the founding CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation which under his leadership is ranked in the top 10 among all types of foundations.
The foundation's 2,000 family and corporate donor funds support a wide range of causes in the Bay Area, across the country and all over the world.
Carson has published over 100 works on philanthropy.
He will receive an honorary doctorate degree of letters for achievement of extraordinary and lasting distinction and for demonstrating personal and professional qualities consistent with the mission and values of Becker College.
Becker's commencement ceremony will take place on May 14 at the DCU Center.
PHOTO: Twitter
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Reshma Saujani, Founder of Girls Who Code
Saujani is the founder of Girls Who Code.
Girls Who Code is a national nonprofit that aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science. The group has grown from 20 members in 2012 to 40,000 in 2016 under Saujani's leadership.
Saujani will also receive an honorary doctor of science degree.
WPI's commencement is set for Saturday, May 14.
PHOTO: Wikipedia
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Anna Maria College
James Brett, President and chief executive officer of The New England Council
Brett has served as president and chief executive officer of The New England Council since October of 1996.
Prior to joining the Council, Brett served for more than 15 years as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Brett was honored on 10 different occasions as Legislator of the Year.
He will receive and honorary degree.
Anna Maria's commencement ceremony is set for May 21 at Hanover Theatre.
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