Condoleezza Rice to headline commencement

Rice, just the second female secretary of state in U.S. history, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree along with three other honorary degree recipients: Kenneth F. Hackett, Pierre Imbert, and Sister Elizabeth S. White, RSCJ.

"Among American universities, Boston College has played a unique role in preparing its graduates for careers in public service," said Jack Dunn, University spokesman. "In welcoming Secretary Rice, we seek to celebrate her commitment to diplomacy and public service as well as her distinguished career in the field of higher education."

President George W. Bush first hired Rice as national security adviser for four years before tabbing her to replace Gen. Colin Powell as secretary of state in January 2005. Before that, Rice had spent four years as Provost of Stanford University, where she controlled a $1.5 billion budget and was in charge of academics for 1,400 faculty members and 14,000 students.

Though details are up in the air, it is likely that security will be considerably tighter than at past commencements, with metal detectors and other measures possible. Rice will be the highest-profile speaker at a commencement since then-vice president George H.W. Bush spoke in 1982, when his youngest daughter Dorothy graduated from BC.

Other recent speakers have included acclaimed doctor Paul Farmer, former U.S. ambassador to NATO R. Nicholas Burns, and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw.

The other honorary degree recipients will receive degrees based on actions that exemplify the Jesuit, Catholic mission and tradition of service at BC.

Hackett, Doctor of Human Letters, a BC graduate, has been the driving force behind Catholic Relief Services, a relief and development agency with a staff of more than 4,000.

After growing up in poverty on the island of Haiti - and then working as a dishwasher to put himself through the University of Massachusetts-Boston - Imbert, Doctor of Public Administration, has served as the executive director of Catholic Charities' Haitian Multi-Service Center and was appointed executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants.

The last recipient, White, Doctor of Letter, came to BC as a professor in the English department and the honors program when the University merged with Newton College in 1975. She will be honored for her commitment to teaching as a Religious of the Sacred Heart professor since 1942.

This year's ceremony will continue the new tradition of having the seniors walk as a class from the eagle statue on Linden Lane to Alumni Stadium, where the commencement will be held. Conte Forum will be the site in the case of rain.