Journalist Judy Woodruff to Deliver Commencement Address

Newswise — Judy Woodruff, CNN anchor and senior correspondent, will be the speaker at Smith College's 126th commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 16.

Woodruff and three other accomplished women will receive honorary degrees.

Woodruff, a 30-year veteran of broadcast journalism who joined CNN in 1993, has covered politics and campaigns for most of her career. She currently anchors "Inside Politics," the nation's first program devoted exclusively to politics.

In 1988, Woodruff moderated the vice presidential debate and has reported on every national political convention and presidential campaign since 1976. Before joining CNN, Woodruff was the chief Washington correspondent for "The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour." From 1984 to 1990, she anchored public television's award-winning weekly documentary series "Frontline with Judy Woodruff." Before joining "The NewsHour," Woodruff was chief Washington, D.C., correspondent for NBC "Today." She also served as the NBC News White House correspondent from 1977 to 1982, covering both the Carter and Reagan administrations.

Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women's Media Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in communication industries worldwide. She serves on the boards of trustees of the Freedom Forum, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Urban Institute, and is a trustee emerita at Duke University, where she earned her bachelor's degree.

Prior to Woodruff's address, the following women, each a leader in her field, will receive honorary degrees: