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Morgan State University President David Wilson announced today that the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives and current House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will be the keynote speaker for the University’s 140th Spring Commencement exercises.
“I am very pleased to announce that Leader Pelosi will be this spring’s commencement speaker,” said Dr. Wilson. “She is a Baltimore native so she knows Morgan. And in many respects, this will serve as a homecoming for her, after spending 28 years representing her constituents in San Francisco, Calif. I am sure that this will be a sharing moment for Leader Pelosi and our graduating students.”
Leader Pelosi served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, and continues as the current Democratic Leader of that chamber. She is credited with leading the fight in the House for larger paychecks for America’s middle class, historic investments in college aid, clean energy and unprecedented health insurance reform legislation.
“Leader Pelosi is a fighter and reformer,” said President Wilson. “She understands what it means to break down barriers, in much the same way that Morgan students understand what it means to break through the barriers they will undoubtedly face throughout their lives. She brings a perspective on leadership, determination and achievement that is unique and inspirational to our students. We are excited to welcome her back home to Baltimore and to the historic Morgan State University,” he added.
Political leadership is no stranger to Leader Pelosi and her family. She is the daughter of Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., who served as Baltimore’s mayor from 1947 until 1959, and the sister of Thomas D’Alesandro III, another former mayor of Baltimore who served one term, 1967-1971.
Morgan’s spring graduation ceremonies will be held May 21, 2016, at 10 a.m., in Hughes Memorial Stadium on the University’s campus. The day will be the culmination of years of work for approximately 850 students, who will receive a baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree.
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 60 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees as well as programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. As Maryland’s public urban university, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
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