Updated Jan. 12, 2012
By Zac Estrada, News Staff
Former US secretary of state and retired four-star General Colin Powell will deliver the 110th commencement address to the class of 2012 graduation ceremony May 4 at the TD Garden, President Joseph Aoun announced last month via Twitter.
“Any single chapter in Colin Powell’s life would be considered a distinguished career in public service,” President Aoun said in a Dec. 13 news release.
Powell, who served from 2001 to 2005 as secretary of state under President George W. Bush, will receive an honorary doctorate during the morning ceremony.
Powell helped create the Colin L. Powell Center for Leadership and Service at the City College of New York, and is the founder and chairman emeritus of the America’s Promise Alliance.
“I’ve spent much of my career fighting for ideals such as freedom, social mobility and global cooperation,” Powell said in the release. “Today, fulfilling these aspirations requires the contributions of globally-focused universities — often through the work of their graduates. I am honored to be part of this commencement and to help launch Northeastern’s newest graduates into a world that needs their considerable energy and talents.”
Powell is also the author of the upcoming book, “It Worked for Me,” scheduled for release in May.
Henri A. Termeer, former chief executive and chairman of Genzyme Corporation, was the 2011 speaker. Northeastern’s 2010 graduating class heard from American Express Chief Executive Kenneth I. Chenault and in 2009 the commencement address was given by designer and entrepreneur Kenneth Cole. This makes Powell the first non-businessman in several years.
