It’s nearing that time of year again — graduation season!
This year’s commencement speaker will be Celia Hammond. Hammond is the vice chancellor of the University of Notre Dame, Australia, the first Catholic university established in the country.
The President’s Leadership Cabinet chooses the speaker over a year before the ceremony, according to Associate Director of Media Relations Beth Sorensen. This cabinet consists of administrative members of the UP community, including the President and the Provost.
Sorensen said the criteria to choose a commencement speaker are all rooted in service: The person must serve the University’s mission of teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership. They must also serve the Catholic Church and the world, and display leadership in their own community and profession.
Hammond received a law degree, worked as a legal practitioner and taught law in Australia. She served on the University of Notre Dame Australia’s general counsel and opened the Institute for Ethics and Society, a research and ethics leadership institute at the university.
Her research focuses on the importance of ethics, a holistic, Catholic higher education and the creation of culture and community.
She will speak at both graduation ceremonies on May 7.
