April 30, 2009 

MEDIA CONTACT: Nick Massella
202-994-3087; massella@gwu.edu

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND EVENTS
MAY 15 - 17, 2009

WHAT: 

Complete schedule of school celebrations, keynote speakers, awards and Commencement on the National Mall for The George Washington University.

RSVP: 

RSVP is required for members of the media.  Please contact Nick Massella at
202-994-3087 or massella@gwu.edu. 

SCHEDULE:

Friday, May 15, 2009
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Commissioning Ceremony
8 a.m.: United States Marine Corps War Memorial, located at Marshall Drive and North Meade Street, Arlington, Va.

Elliott School of International Affairs Celebration
11 a.m.: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd St., NW
Speaker: Kurt Volker, U.S. Ambassador to NATO

Commencement Legacy Family Reception
1 p.m.: Alumni House, 1918 F St., NW

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
1:30 p.m.: GW Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., NW

University Interfaith Baccalaureate Service
3 p.m.: Western Presbyterian Church, 2401 Virginia Ave., NW
Speaker: Rory Pullens, head of school, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

School of Business Undergraduate Celebration
4 p.m.: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd St., NW
Speaker: The Honorable Cythnia A. Glassman, former U.S. undersecretary of commerce and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission commissioner

School of Business Graduate/Doctoral Celebration
7:30 p.m.: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd St., NW
Speaker: Stefan Jacoby, president and chief executive officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Graduate School of Education and Human Development Celebration
8 a.m.: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd St., NW

Phi Beta Kappa Installation
9 a.m.: GW Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., NW
Speaker: Jeanne Narum, director of Project Kaleidoscope and the Independent Colleges Office

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Celebration #1
12 p.m.: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd St., NW

School of Public Health and Health Services Celebration
12 p.m.: GW Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., NW
Speaker: Roslyn Brock, vice chair, National Board of Directors, NAACP

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Celebration #2
3:30 p.m.: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd St., NW

School of Medicine and Health Sciences - Health Sciences Celebration
4 p.m.: GW Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., NW

College of Professional Studies Celebration
7:30 p.m.: GW Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., NW
Speaker: Mary Cheh, GW professor of law, Elyce Zenoff Research Professor of Law, and councilmember, Washington, D.C.

School of Engineering and Applied Science Celebration
7:30 p.m.: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd St., NW
Speaker: Bill Westenhofer M.S. ?95, an Oscar-winning visual effects artist for The Golden Compass and visual effects supervisor at Rhythm and Hues Film

Monumental Celebration at Historic Union Station
8:30 - 11:30 p.m.: 50 Massachusetts Ave., NE

Sunday, May 17, 2009
University Commencement on the National Mall
10 a.m.: National Mall, between 4th and 7th streets
Honorary Degree Recipients:
Keynote Rahm Emanuel, White House chief of staff, will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.
Jeanne Narum, director of Project Kaleidoscope and the Independent Colleges Office, will receive a Doctor of Science, honoris causa.
John Safer, B.A. '47, world-renowned sculptor, will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa.

School of Medicine and Health Sciences - MD Celebration
2:30 p.m.: GW Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St., NW

Law School Celebration
2:30 p.m.: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd St., NW
Speaker: Gregory G. Garre, J.D. '91, U.S. solicitor general

For more information about GW's Commencement Weekend, visit www.commencement.gwu.edu.

For more news about The George Washington University, visit www.gwnewscenter.org.

- GW -