News Release

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Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State,
to speak at May 2007 commencement

CHAPEL HILL - Dr. Madeleine Albright, first female Secretary of State, will deliver the spring commencement address at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chancellor James Moeser announced Wednesday.

Moeser will preside at the ceremony, set for May 13, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. in Kenan Stadium. "I think it is fitting that Dr. Albright will address our graduates as the University celebrates our accomplishments in global education throughout 2007," Moeser said. "Our students will benefit from her valuable insights on world affairs."

Albright served as the 64th Secretary of State of the United States and is the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. As secretary, Albright reinforced America's alliances, advocated democracy and human rights and promoted American trade and business, labor and environmental standards abroad.

Moeser chose Albright in close consultation with the university's commencement speaker selection committee. The committee, chaired by executive associate provost Steve Allred, is composed of an equal number of students and faculty.

"Dr. Albright was a unanimous and enthusiastic choice," Allred said. "She is a highly sought-after opinion maker and consultant on world affairs," he said.
In 2006, Albright participated in meetings at the White House to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials.
Student Body President James Allred, who nominated Albright to the selection committee, said he was thrilled Albright would participate in commencement.

"Carolina students are entering an increasingly global work force, and she can address students' interests in these areas. Global and immigrant issues will also be fresh on the minds of the Carolina student body because our summer reading book focused on these topics," James Allred said.
Prior to her appointment as Secretary of State, Albright served as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations (presenting her credentials at the UN on February 6, 1993) and as a member of President Clinton's Cabinet and National Security Council.
"I am honored and privileged to have such a distinguished political figure as part of our commencement ceremony," said Meg Petersen, senior class president. "Personally, as a female leader on campus, I am especially enthusiastic about hosting the first female Secretary of State at UNC."

After retiring as Secretary of State, Albright published her memoir, Madam Secretary (2003) and The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs (2006). She is currently a professor at Georgetown University and a principal in The Albright Group LLC, a global strategy firm she founded in Washington, D.C.

Albright is the first Michael and Virginia Mortara Endowed Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service; the first Distinguished Scholar of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan Business School; chairman of The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation.

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Image URL: For an image of Madeline Albright, visit http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/visiting/Albrightmadeleine.jpg

News Services contact: Mike McFarland, (919) 962-8593, mike_mcfarland@unc.edu