Economist Jeffrey Sachs, director of The Earth Institute, will address 864 graduating seniors May 19 at Bryant U.

May 14th, 2012

MEDIA ADVISORY

Sachs

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  - Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University who has been called "the most important economist in the world" by The New York Times, will address 864 graduating seniors and receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters during Bryant University's undergraduate Commencement Saturday, May 19. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. on the University campus, 1150 Douglas Pike.

A procession of students, faculty, administrators, Board of Trustees members, and the honorary degree recipients begins at 9:30 a.m. on the Bryant University campus. The ceremony, held under a large tent, begins at 10 and is expected to end at 12:30 p.m. The ceremony will be webcast live here.

Two other honorary degrees will be presented during the ceremony: an honorary doctorate of business administration to Claudio Del Vecchio of Brooks Brothers and an honorary doctorate of humane letters to Nina Zolt of ePals, Inc. (On Thursday, May 17, during the Graduate School of Business commencement ceremony, honorary  to Cheryl Merchant, president and CEO of Rhode Island-based manufacturer Hope Global, and Gina Raimondo, general treasurer of Rhode Island. See separate release here.)

Jeffrey Sachs

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Widely acknowledged as the world's leading international economic advisor, Professor Sachs has been in the forefront of economic development, enlightened globalization, environmental sustainability, and public health for more than 20 years. He currently serves as Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and was previously director of the United Nations Millennium Project and Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the Millennium Development Goals.

Sachs, who is considered one of the leading advocates for combining economic development with environmental sustainability, is also a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, a member of the Brookings Panel of Economists and the Board of Advisors of the Chinese Economists Society, the author of best-selling Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet and The End of Poverty, and a syndicated columnist published in more than 50 countries around the world. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, he received his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Claudio Del Vecchio

Honorary Doctor of Business Administration

International business executive and entrepreneur Claudio Del Vecchio oversees a portfolio of premier retail and manufacturing companies including Brooks Brothers, Southwick, Carolee Designs, and Luxottica Group, the world's largest eyewear manufacturer. Among many awards and distinctions, Del Vecchio has been recognized for his business acumen, as "Man of the Year" by the International Association of Clothing Designers and Executives, and for his extensive philanthropic work. The Golden Fleece Foundation, a Brooks Brothers charity, has raised millions on behalf of prominent national charities. Del Vecchio serves on the board of the National Retail Federation and is a member of the Center for Economic Transformation of NYC and an honorary fellow of the Foreign Policy Association.

Zolt

Nina Zolt

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Nina Zolt is a recognized innovator focused on improving learning opportunities for all students in a digital age. With a notable track record of experience spanning several sectors - including entertainment law, digital media and design - she created In2Books, the ePals flagship eMentoring program. Zolt is the lead author of the In2Books Genre Guides and co-author of Getting Children In2Books: Engagement in Authentic Reading, Writing and Thinking. She has served on numerous boards, including the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the International Reading Association, and the Washington, D.C., Advisory Board of Directors for Teach for America. She holds an A.B. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.

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Keywords: Class of 2012, Claudio Del Vecchio, Commencement, events, Jeffrey Sachs, Nina Zolt