Local

Speakers to encourage graduates

Catholic Herald Staff Report

The area’s Catholic colleges and universities will kick off
graduation season beginning May 10, and the ceremonies will
honor a variety of speakers for their contributions to the
Church, public service and journalism.

Marymount University in Arlington will hold commencement
exercises May 10 at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Washington Week,
will deliver the undergraduate commencement address, and will
be awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters in
recognition of her contributions to journalism.

Ifill, also a senior correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim
Lehrer on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), has covered
six presidential campaigns and has worked as a chief
congressional and political correspondent for NBC News.
Ifill’s most recent book, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race
in the Age of Obama, is a bestseller.

Marymount’s graduate commencement exercises will feature
Robert M. Kimmitt, former deputy U.S. treasury secretary, who
will offer the address. Kimmitt served as deputy treasury
secretary from August 2005 until January. He is also a former
U.S. ambassador to Germany, under secretary of state for
political affairs and deputy assistant to the president for
national security affairs.

Kimmitt, a graduate of West Point, served with the 173rd
Airborne Brigade in Vietnam, and retired in 2004 from the
U.S. Army Reserve with the rank of major general. Kimmitt
will receive an honorary doctorate in humane letters.

During commencement ceremonies May 16, Christendom College in
Front Royal will honor Father Frank Pavone with its Pro Deo
et Patria Medal for distinguished service to God and country.
Father Pavone, who was ordained in 1988 for the Diocese of
Amarillo, Texas, is the national director of Priests for
Life, and serves full-time in pro-life ministry.

The college’s commencement speaker will be Jude Dougherty,
dean emeritus of the school of philosophy at Catholic
University in Washington. Dougherty has written more than 100
articles and has written or edited many books in multiple
languages on topics in metaphysics, the philosophy of
science, and social and political philosophy. He will receive
an honorary doctorate.

Also May 16, Catholic University will hold its graduation
ceremonies on the east steps of the Basilica of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., at
10 a.m.

Raymond W. Kelly, New York City police commissioner, will
address Catholic’s graduates and will be awarded an honorary
degree. Kelly was appointed commissioner by New York Mayor
Michael Bloomberg in 2002, making him the first commissioner
to serve a second, non-consecutive term. Kelly previously
served as commissioner from 1992-94.

Between commissioner appointments, Kelly worked as senior
managing director of global corporate security for Bear
Stearns & Co.; commissioner of U.S. Customs Service and
undersecretary for enforcement at the U.S. Treasury
Department. Kelly is also a retired colonel in the Marine
Corps Reserves.

Related Articles