The University of Denver will welcome a distinguished alumnus and a U.S. congresswoman at separate graduation ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate students. Some 1,500 graduate students and 1,200 undergraduates are eligible for Commencement.
The graduate ceremony will be at 5 p.m. on June 5 at DU’s Magness Arena. The undergraduate ceremony will be 10 a.m. on June 6 at Magness Arena.
Joseph Saunders (BS ’67, MBA ’68), chairman and CEO of Visa Inc., will deliver the address at graduate commencement June 5. Saunders will be receiving an honorary doctorate of business. The University will also confer an honorary doctorate of fine arts upon William Robinson, who completed the required coursework for his doctoral degree at the University of Denver in 1960, but because of publishing costs at the time was unable to prepare and submit his dissertation. He instead accepted a teaching position at Mesa Junior College (now Mesa State College) in Grand Junction and taught there until his retirement in 1988.
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Denver) will speak to undergraduates receiving their degrees on Saturday, June 6. DeGette, serving her seventh term, will receive an honorary doctorate in public service. The University will also confer an honorary doctorate of higher education upon Joy Burns, who has served the University since 1972, including serving on the Board of Trustees since 1981.
For more information or for streaming video of DU’s commencement ceremony, please visit DU’s commencement Web site.