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April 01, 2005
Greece’s Prime Minister To Deliver Tufts Commencement Address
Reprinted from Tufts E-News.
Tufts graduate and Prime Minister of Greece Kostas Karamanlis will deliver the annual commencement address at Tufts, University officials announced today. After leading his New Democracy party to victory in March 2004, the 48-year-old Karamanlis became the youngest person elected prime minister in modern Greek history.
“Prime Minister Karamanlis is one of Europe’s most dynamic leaders, and a rising star on the global political stage,” Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow said. “His international perspective, commitment to public service and leadership are all qualities our students, faculty and staff hold with the highest regard.”
Calling his election to office “the start of a new era,” Karamanlis has made the establishment of Greece as the Mediterranean’s primary economic hub one of his top priorities. He has also initiated broad education and health reforms.
Just five months after taking office, Prime Minister Karamanlis presided over the 2004 Summer Olympics, which returned to Greece for the first time in more than 100 years.
During Tufts’ 149th commencement exercises – scheduled for Sun., May 22, 2005 – Karamanlis will be awarded an honorary doctorate of laws. He will be joined by an accomplished group of honorary degree recipients:
- Oscar-winning actor and Tufts graduate William Hurt will receive an honorary doctorate of fine arts;
- Mayor of Hiroshima and former Tufts mathematics professor Tadatoshi Akiba will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters;
- Former Dartmouth College President James O. Freedman will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters;
- National Medal of Science winner and Tufts graduate Ann M. Graybiel will receive an honorary doctorate of science.
Posted by jessica at April 1, 2005 01:09 PM
