Posted on April 19, 2007
Ambassador Gaddi H. Vasquez, the 8th U.S. Representative to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, will be the commencement speaker for the Class of 2007.
Vasquez will speak at the main ceremony Saturday, May 5, at Bridgeforth Stadium. The ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. He served as the third longest director of the U.S. Peace Corps and currently works to educate others on world hunger.
“We chose Mr. Vasquez because of his work with the Peace Corps,” said Mark Warner, senior vice president of student affairs and university planning. “In addition, there are many alums who serve in the Peace Corps, and many students who provide service in our world community. I believe that his message will continue to inspire all of us to ‘Be the Change.’”
Last year, the 2007 commencement speaker committee comprised of students from the SGA and class council worked with the SGA advisor, the vice president of academic affairs and the director of Madison institutes to compile a list of possible speakers.
The committee acts as a representation of the student body in order to work to bring a speaker whose experiences and background will enable them to provide a relevant message that will leave a mark on the graduating class, parents and faculty.
“Mr. Vasquez had the strongest connection to someone graduating at JMU this year and since he was a public official he came at the right price,” said senior Matt Hayo, a member on the committee. “The school currently has no budget set aside for graduation speakers so justification needed to be shown in terms of cost and justification, and he was our recommendation.”
The list was presented to President Linwood Rose and Vice President of Academic Affairs Douglas Brown to make the final decision.
Vasquez has traveled to numerous countries in Africa including Zambia, Malawi, and Egypt to evaluate if U.S. resources to the United Nations reach people with the greatest need. He also oversaw the largest congressional appropriation to the Peace Corps for three consecutive years, which in turn enabled the Peace Corps have a 30-year high in number of volunteers in the field.
“I’m excited to hear him speak about his professional career, considering that I am currently applying for the Peace Corps,” senior Soknorntha Prum said. “I’ve been exposed to a lot of stories about people’s experiences while serving overseas, but every story tells of a difference experience and it’s always interesting to hear them firsthand; he seems to have a lot of service experience and a passion to do good.”
Senior Mary Beth Walsh agreed.
“I think it might be interesting to hear what he has to say,” she said. “Since he was a member of the Peace Corps I’m sure he has a lot to say about life experiences after graduation.”
