Norwich University announced today that former US Senator Elizabeth Dole will deliver its 2015 commencement address to graduating seniors on Saturday, May 9. Senator Dole will receive an honorary degree from Norwich University, located in Northfield, Vermont.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University, Elizabeth Dole earned both a law degree and a master of arts in teaching from Harvard University. She worked in the Johnson Administration and later served in the Nixon White House as Deputy to the Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs, an appointment that sparked a career-long interest in public safety and humanitarian work. President Nixon also appointed her to the Federal Trade Commission, where she served as a commissioner for five years.
Dole later served in the Reagan Administration in a variety of posts, including US Secretary of Transportation — the first female to hold the position. She worked on legislation to raise the drinking age to 21 and issued landmark regulation which is credited with the widespread enactment of the first state safety belt laws and air bags in cars. These three actions have saved nearly 400,000 lives to date.
For those efforts, Dole received both the Humanitarian Award from the National Commission Against Drunk Driving and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
She is perhaps best known as the former president of the American Red Cross and for her own political career as Republican US senator representing her home state of North Carolina. Dole is also the wife of former presidential candidate, senator and World War II veteran, Bob Dole.
Elizabeth Dole herself briefly ran for president in the Republican primary in 2000 and was considered a possible running mate for George W Bush, a position that eventually went to Dick Cheney.
In 2012, Dole founded the Caring for Military Families: The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, to raise awareness and support for the spouses, mothers, fathers, and other loved ones caring for wounded, ill and injured military personnel. In 2014, she launched a national coalition of public, private, nonprofit, labor and faith leaders to fill the gaps in support provided to these hidden heroes.
Norwich University officials say Dole was the natural choice for its 2015 commencement address given her lifetime of public service. This year, Norwich is celebrating the 2014-15 academic year as the “Year of Service,” the first year in a five-year countdown to the university’s bicentennial celebration in 2019.
During commencement ceremonies starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2015, Dole will address approximately 400 students graduating from 32 undergraduate programs and one master’s program. The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Shapiro Field House.
During the commencement ceremony, Dole will receive an honorary Norwich degree.
View the schedule to learn more, including how to access the live stream of the ceremony.