Dear Members of the Class of 2012, and Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
Nominations for persons to be considered as Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipients at the May 2012 Commencement should be submitted to my office, in confidence, by replying to this message no later than Monday, April 18th.
The Honorary Degree Committee of the Board of Trustees, which also includes student and faculty members, recommends to the President a slate of nominees for Commencement speaker and honorary degrees. I serve as the administrative liaison with the committee. The committee welcomes nominations from members of the rising senior class and from members of the faculty and staff.
Our goal is to honor people who are distinguished beyond mere celebrity, and whose presence at our Commencement would enable us to recognize excellence in a wide range of human endeavors. Many honorary degree recipients have a connection with Middlebury, as alumni, parents, or friends of the College, or as residents of Vermont.
To provide the Committee with background information about a nominee, please include a biographical sketch, curriculum vitae, link to a Web page with biographical information, or an entry from Who’s Who or a similar reference source.
Please note that the process of assembling a slate of candidates and extending the invitations from the President takes many months; thus the outcome of this process is not likely to be known until late winter. It’s not uncommon for an individual who is invited to decline an invitation, and in some instances an invitation may be carried over to a future year. However, all completed nominations (and there are many!) are forwarded to the Honorary Degree Committee and they do receive consideration. The committee members and President Liebowitz appreciate your nominations.
Sincerely,
Susan Campbell