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March 14, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
TO DELIVER SMITH COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Honorary Degrees Will Be
Awarded to Four
Editor's note: Photos of Albright,
Oberlander, Smith and Yolen are available.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Madeleine Albright,
the first female Secretary of State and the highest ranking woman
in the history of the United States government, will be the speaker
at Smith College's 125th commencement ceremony on Sunday, May
18.
Albright and three other accomplished women will receive honorary
degrees.
One of the most visible and influential women to serve in government,
Albright served as the United States Permanent Representative
to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997 and as a member of the
President's Cabinet and National Security Council. In 1995, she
led the U.S. delegation to the UN's fourth world conference on
women in Beijing.
Albright was nominated to the country's top foreign policy post
by President Clinton. Unanimously confirmed by the Senate in
1997, Albright went on to demonstrate, in the words of Washington
Post columnist Mary McGrory, " a willingness to listen and
investigate another point of view, an ability to differ, civilly
with the prevailing wisdom." Accomplishments during her
tenure included the expansion and modernization of NATO; the
promotion of peace in the Balkans; and the expansion of trade
and human rights relationships with China.
Albright was born in Prague and immigrated to America with her
family in 1948. She earned degrees from Wellesley College and
Columbia University. Currently she consults on global issues;
chairs several international affairs organizations, including
the Truman Scholarship Foundation; and holds faculty appointments
at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and the University
of Michigan Business School.
Prior to Albright's address, the following women, each a leader
in her field, will receive honorary degrees:
Distinguished landscape architect Cornelia
Hahn Oberlander, a 1982 Smith Medalist and Canada's most
accomplished and well-known female landscape architect, a pioneer
of socially conscious and sustainable landscape designs, and
a 1944 Smith graduate;
Innovative actor, playwright and teacher
Anna Deavere Smith, creator of the groundbreaking journalism-based
performances "Fires in the Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn
and Other Identities," which was nominated for a Pulitzer
Prize in 1993, and "Twilight: Los Angeles 1992," which
was nominated for two Tony awards and numerous other honors;
Award-winning writer Jane Yolen,
a 1960 Smith graduate and the author of more than 250 books for
children, young adults and adults, recognized with such awards
as the Caldecott Medal, the Nebula Award, the Golden Kite Award,
the Smith College Medal and the Jewish Book Award.
Commencement will take place at 1:30
p.m. in the Quadrangle.
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