George W. Bush will deliver the address at this year’s Commencement ceremony, SMU announced today.
The 43rd president of the United Staes will speak to the more than 2,000 undergraduates, graduates and professional degree recipients, in addition to their family members and friends.
“This Commencement is especially noteworthy because 2015 is the 100-year anniversary of SMU’s opening. So it is fitting that we should hear from a president who led our nation and the world during historic times and is a valued member of the campus community,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner in the press release.
This will mark Bush’s second time speaking at SMU Commencement. He delivered his first Commencement speech at SMU in 1999 when he was the governor of Texas.
The Bush family has several ties to the SMU community. His wife Laura Bush is an SMU alumna and member of the SMU Board of Trustees; George W. Bush recently opened the George W. Bush Presidential Center on campus, offering opportunities, resources and internships to SMU students. The center has also collaborated with various schools and faculty members on campus. George W. Bush continues to remain an active member of the SMU community by attending events and visiting classes.
This year’s Commencement will be held May 16 in Moody Coliseum. SMU schools and departments will host individual ceremonies throughout the day following the University-wide Commencement ceremony.
