> Student Speakers
Each school or college ceremony includes an address by a graduating student. The selection of the student speaker is coordinated within each school's dean's office. The process begins around early February. Student speakers are announced by the dean's office in late March or early April.
If you would like to be considered as the student speaker, please contact your dean's office.
> Honorary Degree Recipients & Commencement Speakers
- Valerie Jarrett (WCL)
- Erskine Bowles (SPA)
- Wayne Clough (CAS)
- Rajiv Shah (SIS)
- Barbara Krumsiek (Kogod)
- Thomas Curley (SOC)
Commencement speakers must be approved by the school or college's dean, the president, and the Board of Trustees and are selected based on meritorious contributions to society or to American University in fields related to the university's mission. The process typically begins approximately one year in advance. All commencement speakers are announced together, generally in late March or early April. The announcement appears on the AU home page, president's Web site, Today@AU, and in the Eagle.
Read more about this year's commencement speakers.
Additional information about past honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers is available on the Commencement History & Traditions page.
