USC 125th Commencement: Robert Iger To Address Graduates

President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company Robert Iger will deliver the commencement address at the University of Southern California’s 125th graduation ceremony on Friday, May 16.

USC President Steven B. Sample will confer more than 8,000 degrees on graduating students in ceremonies beginning at 8:30 a.m. in USC’s Alumni Park.

Roughly 40,000 parents, family and friends are expected to attend the ceremonies, which will include satellite ceremonies held by 26 USC schools and academic units. Congressman John Campbell (R-Ca.), commentator Arianna Huffington and actress Geena Davis are among those scheduled to speak at the satellite ceremonies.

At the ceremony, computer science major Julianne Yulan Gale will be recognized as valedictorian of the USC undergraduate class of 2008. Mechanical engineering major Reed Doucette and chemistry major Andrew Horning will be recognized as class salutatorians.

After delivering his address, Iger will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from USC.

A longtime network television executive at ABC, Iger advanced through the company’s management ranks, beginning his career in 1974 as a studio supervisor for daytime television.

As president and chief operating officer of Capital Cities/ABC, he oversaw the media company’s merger with Disney. At Disney, Iger has served as chairman of the Disney-owned ABC Group and president of Walt Disney International. He is a trustee of the American Film Institute and a member of the board of directors of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Also receiving honorary degrees from USC are:

Sweet Alice Harris, doctor of humane letters. A prominent community organizer and outspoken advocate for the underserved, Harris is the executive director of Parents of Watts, a social services organization she started out of her home in the aftermath of the 1965 Los Angeles riots. As a teenager, Harris experienced homelessness and single motherhood. She has since devoted her life to improving the lives of countless individuals.

Norman Lear, doctor of humane letters. Lear is a four-time Emmy Award winner whose television shows — including All in the Family, Maude and Sanford and Son — used humor to spark debate about controversial issues. A World War II veteran, Lear founded the nonprofit People for the American Way and is currently chairman of Act III Communications, a multimedia holding company. Lear is the namesake of the USC Annenberg School of Communication’s Norman Lear Center, a multidisciplinary research and public policy center.

Harlyne J. Norris, doctor of humane letters. A leading philanthropist and native of Southern California, Norris provides guidance to numerous organizations that support children, health care, medical research, education and the arts. Norris has been a trustee of USC since 2000, and she is a trustee and past chairman of the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation. The recently unveiled Harlyne J. Norris Cancer Research Tower on the USC Health Sciences campus is named in her honor.

About the University of Southern California

Established in 1880, the University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities and the oldest private research university in the western United States. USC enrolls more international students than any other U.S. university and offers extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad. With a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, USC fosters a vibrant culture of public service and encourages students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge.

Contact: Suzanne Wu at (213) 740-0252 or suzanne.wu@usc.edu

From University of Southern California Media Relations
Los Angeles, Calif.
Tel: (213) 740-2215
Fax: (213) 740-7600