Newswise — Secretary of State Colin L. Powell is scheduled to deliver Wake Forest University's commencement address May 17. Powell will address the approximately 1,500 Wake Forest graduates and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree during the 9 a.m. outdoor ceremony on University Plaza. The ceremony is not open to the public.
During the ceremony, university officials will also award an honorary degree to Joycelyn Elders, former surgeon general of the United States. Powell was sworn in as the 65th secretary of state on Jan. 20, 2001. Prior to his appointment, he was chairman of America's Promise " The Alliance for Youth, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building the character and competence of young people.
Powell was born in New York City in 1937. He attended City College of New York where he earned a bachelor's degree in geology and participated in the ROTC program. In 1958, he received a commission as an Army second lieutenant. During his 35-year career as a professional soldier, Powell held several command and staff positions and rose to the rank of four-star general. He was assistant to the president for national security affairs from 1987-1989, and served from 1989-1993 as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense. During that time, he oversaw 28 crises, including Operation Desert Storm.
Powell has received two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. His best-selling autobiography, My American Journey, was published in 1995.
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