51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Martha Nussbaum is named 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s 189th commencement speaker

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Martha Nussbaum, one of the world’s leading philosophers, will deliver the keynote address at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s 189th commencement exercises at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 16, in Sanford Field House. During the ceremony, Nussbaum will be awarded a Doctor of Letters honorary degree.

Nussbaum, Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago, specializes in moral and political philosophy as well as ancient Greek and Roman philosophy.

Widely published, she also writes and speaks eloquently about the nature and importance of the liberal arts. Nussbaum holds degrees from New York University and Harvard University.

Senior Class Gift

• The Class of 2010 has raised more than $26,000 for an environmental sustainability fund, which will support projects designed to decrease the environmental impact of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s operations and encourage a discussion of sustainable practices.

Seniors will continue to raise money through the end of the semester.

The Rev. Roger Ferlo ’73, this year’s baccalaureate speaker, also will receive an honorary degree. Ferlo is associate dean and director of the Institute for Christian Formation and Leadership as well as professor of religion at Virginia Theological Seminary. His achievements and service to his field include important texts on the Bible and reading scripture.

Other 2010 honorary degree recipients include trustee Daniel Benton ’80, chairman and CEO of Andor Capital Management, and Ronald Crutcher, president of Wheaton College in Massachusetts.

Benton’s staunch support for financial aid and the Benton Scholars program at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has had a transformative impact on the campus community. As chair of the Board of Trustees Endowment Management and Finance Committee, Benton has been instrumental in building 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s endowment, further ensuring that future generations will benefit from a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø education.

In addition to his leadership role at Wheaton College, Crutcher is a renowned cellist and music scholar. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1985 and has several recordings to his credit. Crutcher’s publications include journal articles on higher education, leadership, chamber music, and Black classical music.

See the commencement for more information.