May 4, 2009  

MEDIA CONTACTS: Michelle Sherrard
202-994-1423; mcs1@gwu.edu           
Racine Hamilton
202-994-4413; rthmedia@comcast.net

VOLKSWAGEN EXECUTIVE AND FORMER U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONER TO SPEAK AT GW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS COMMENCEMENT CELEBRATIONS

WASHINGTON--The Honorable Cynthia Glassman, former U.S. undersecretary for economic affairs at the Department of Commerce and former commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, will deliver keynote addresses at The George Washington University School of Business celebrations on Friday, May 15, 2009, at the Charles E. Smith Center address. Glassman will deliver the address to undergraduates, and Jacoby will address the school's graduate students.

"We are delighted to have two outstanding speakers--one with a distinguished record in public service and the other with a remarkable career in private industry," said Susan M. Phillips, dean of GW's School of Business and professor of finance.  "I know that our graduates will be inspired and learn a great deal from both."

Glassman spent more than 35 years in the public and private sectors working on financial services regulatory and public policy issues. She served as undersecretary for economic affairs at the Department of Commerce from 2006-2009. While at the Department of Commerce, Glassman was the principal economic adviser to the Secretary and oversaw two major statistical agencies--the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau.

Between 2002 and 2006, Glassman served as SEC commissioner. During her tenure, she was closely involved in developing and voting on the regulations implementing the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as a number of other regulations regarding corporate governance and financial markets.

"I am thrilled that I was selected to address the Class of 2009," said Glassman. "I plan to share several lessons that will help them achieve success in their future careers and in life."

After receiving his M.B.A. from the University of Cologne in 1985, Jacoby began his career in the industrial sales department at Volkswagen. In 1988, he relocated to Volkswagen of America where he was responsible for pricing the commercial vehicle line. He has served in a number of key positions with the company including head of controlling at Volkswagen Audi Nippon KK in Japan, general office manager and head of the Asia-Pacific region.
 
From 2001-2004, Jacoby was president and chief executive of Mitsubishi Motors Europe headquartered in Amsterdam. He returned to Volkswagen in 2004 to head up the group sales strategy department. This fall, Jacoby assumed his current position as president and chief executive of Volkswagen of America where he is responsible for U.S. automotive sales.

GW's School of Business prepares students for professional management careers. The depth and variety of its academic and professional programs, including five specialized master's programs, provide rich opportunities for students in the school's core Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, and doctoral programs. GW's undergraduate- and graduate-level international business programs rank among the world's best. 

For more information about the GW School of Business, visit www.business.gwu.edu.
For more news about The George Washington University, visit www.gwnewscenter.org.

-GW-