Oprah Winfrey is set to deliver the commencement at Harvard University on May 30. She spoke at the commencement for Spelman College in Georgia in 2012.
Oprah Winfrey —
Oprah Winfrey is set to deliver the commencement at Harvard University on May 30. She spoke at the commencement for Spelman College in Georgia in 2012.
Every spring, college commencement addresses offer a chance to hear life lessons from a who's who of politicians, scientists, tech leaders and artists. So, who's speaking this year? President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address at Morehouse College on May 19 in Atlanta. He gave the commencement address at the Ohio State University on May 5 and will be doing the same at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 24. Click through the gallery to see more of this year's speakers.
Barack Obama —
Every spring, college commencement addresses offer a chance to hear life lessons from a who's who of politicians, scientists, tech leaders and artists. So, who's speaking this year? President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address at Morehouse College on May 19 in Atlanta. He gave the commencement address at the Ohio State University on May 5 and will be doing the same at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 24. Click through the gallery to see more of this year's speakers.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
Musician Wynton Marsalis will speak at the University of Vermont's commencement on May 19, when his son will graduate. Here, Marsalis played "America the Beautiful" during Harvard's commencement in 2009.
Wynton Marsalis —
Musician Wynton Marsalis will speak at the University of Vermont's commencement on May 19, when his son will graduate. Here, Marsalis played "America the Beautiful" during Harvard's commencement in 2009.
First lady Michelle Obama delivered the commencement address at Bowie State University in College Park, Maryland, on May 17. She delivered the commencement addresses at Eastern Kentucky University on May 11 and is also set to talk at the Martin Luther King Academic Magnet High School for Health Sciences and Engineering in Nashville on May 18.
Michelle Obama —
First lady Michelle Obama delivered the commencement address at Bowie State University in College Park, Maryland, on May 17. She delivered the commencement addresses at Eastern Kentucky University on May 11 and is also set to talk at the Martin Luther King Academic Magnet High School for Health Sciences and Engineering in Nashville on May 18.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is to deliver the commencement address at Stanford University in June. Bloomberg received an honorary degree from New York University President John Sexton, right, in 2003.
Michael Bloomberg —
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is to deliver the commencement address at Stanford University in June. Bloomberg received an honorary degree from New York University President John Sexton, right, in 2003.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney delivered the commencement address at Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia, in April. The school's students are predominantly Mormon, as is the former Republican presidential candidate. In 2012, Romney delivered the commencement address at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Mitt Romney —
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney delivered the commencement address at Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia, in April. The school's students are predominantly Mormon, as is the former Republican presidential candidate. In 2012, Romney delivered the commencement address at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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Comedian Bill Cosby will address graduates at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 19 and the University of Baltimore on May 21. He also spoke in 2003 at the graduation of Temple University in Philadelphia, where he studied.
Bill Cosby —
Comedian Bill Cosby will address graduates at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 19 and the University of Baltimore on May 21. He also spoke in 2003 at the graduation of Temple University in Philadelphia, where he studied.
Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox delivered the commencement address at Berklee School of Music in Boston on May 11 -- and broke into song, too. She received an honorary doctorate of music, along with Carole King and Willie Nelson. Here, Lennox performs during the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London.
Annie Lennox —
Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox delivered the commencement address at Berklee School of Music in Boston on May 11 -- and broke into song, too. She received an honorary doctorate of music, along with Carole King and Willie Nelson. Here, Lennox performs during the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London.
On May 18, Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert will speak at University of Virginia, his wife's alma mater. Here, he performs during a Comedy Central event. No bears are expected to attend the Virginia ceremony.
Stephen Colbert —
On May 18, Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert will speak at University of Virginia, his wife's alma mater. Here, he performs during a Comedy Central event. No bears are expected to attend the Virginia ceremony.
The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, will deliver the keynote address to graduates at Tulane University in New Orleans on May 18.
The Dalai Lama —
The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, will deliver the keynote address to graduates at Tulane University in New Orleans on May 18.
After winning gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Sanya Richards-Ross will give the commencement address at her alma mater, the University of Texas, in May.
Sanya Richards-Ross —
After winning gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Sanya Richards-Ross will give the commencement address at her alma mater, the University of Texas, in May.
Jim Yong Kim, the president of The World Bank Group, spoke at Northeastern University on May 3. Here, he spoke during the U.N. Every Woman Every Child Dinner in 2012.
Jim Yong Kim —
Jim Yong Kim, the president of The World Bank Group, spoke at Northeastern University on May 3. Here, he spoke during the U.N. Every Woman Every Child Dinner in 2012.
Former Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. will speak to graduates of the University of Maryland on May 19.
Cal Ripken Jr. —
Former Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. will speak to graduates of the University of Maryland on May 19.
Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, will speak at the commencement ceremony at Bard College in New York state on May 25.
Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly —
Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, will speak at the commencement ceremony at Bard College in New York state on May 25.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, spoke at Rice University in Houston on May 11. Here, he spoke about his NovaScienceNow show, "Asteroid," in 2006.
Neil deGrasse Tyson —
Neil deGrasse Tyson, the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, spoke at Rice University in Houston on May 11. Here, he spoke about his NovaScienceNow show, "Asteroid," in 2006.
On May 26, Joss Whedon, the man behind TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and films such as "The Avengers," will give the commencement address at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Whedon graduated from Wesleyan in 1987.<br />
Joss Whedon —
On May 26, Joss Whedon, the man behind TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and films such as "The Avengers," will give the commencement address at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Whedon graduated from Wesleyan in 1987.
Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple Inc. and chief scientist at Fusion-io, will talk to grads at the University of California, Berkeley, on May 18. He also gave the commencement address at High Point University in North Carolina on May 4.
Steve Wozniak —
Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple Inc. and chief scientist at Fusion-io, will talk to grads at the University of California, Berkeley, on May 18. He also gave the commencement address at High Point University in North Carolina on May 4.
"Scandal" star Kerry Washington will speak at graduation for her alma mater, George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on May 19.
Kerry Washington —
"Scandal" star Kerry Washington will speak at graduation for her alma mater, George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on May 19.
Author and FiveThirtyEight blogger Nate Silver gave the commencement address at Ripon College in Wisconsin on May 12. Here, Silver attended the Webby Awards in 2012.
Nate Silver —
Author and FiveThirtyEight blogger Nate Silver gave the commencement address at Ripon College in Wisconsin on May 12. Here, Silver attended the Webby Awards in 2012.
"Be in this moment. Now be here in this moment. Now, be here in this moment," Twitter CEO Dick Costolo told grads at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, on May 4. In this earlier moment, he spoke to Twitter developers in 2010.
Dick Costolo —
"Be in this moment. Now be here in this moment. Now, be here in this moment," Twitter CEO Dick Costolo told grads at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, on May 4. In this earlier moment, he spoke to Twitter developers in 2010.
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal will speak at the University of Maryland Baltimore on May 17. Here, the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan speaks during a discussion at the Brookings Institution.
Stanley McChrystal —
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal will speak at the University of Maryland Baltimore on May 17. Here, the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan speaks during a discussion at the Brookings Institution.