Commencement Speaker

Undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, and alumni are invited to submit names of potential 2017 commencement speakers to the Commencement Speaker Nominations Committee, the membership of which includes faculty, staff, and student representatives.

Commencement is an important part of university life where we celebrate the culmination of much hard work and achievement. As part of the ceremony, we invite a distinguished guest to address the graduates and the academic community. This individual should reflect the goals and values of Lehigh University.  Nominees should be someone whose work and achievements reflect our value system at Lehigh and whose message is one that will serve as a capstone to our graduates' educational experience. The committee also welcomes you to re-submit the names of candidates who were nominated, but not selected, in past years. Nominations are accepted year-round on a rolling basis, but only those received by midnight on Friday, March 11, 2016, will be assured of full consideration for the May 2017 Commencement ceremony. The Commencement Speaker Nominations Committee will review the nominations and provide a list of recommended nominees to the President, who consults with the Board of Trustees before selecting the final speaker. The 2017 Commencement speaker selection will be announced to the campus community and the public during the 2016-17 academic year.

Students' names who submit nominations will automatically be entered in prize drawings sponsored by the Dean of Students Office. Members of the Class of 2017 are particularly encouraged to nominate, but the nominations process is open to all members of the Lehigh campus community and extended community (parents, alumni, friends, community members). Persons may make multiple nominations.