Fashion designer to speak at graduation

Northeastern has been bitten by the fashion bug.
Clothing designer and philanthropist Kenneth Cole will deliver the university’s keynote commencement speech to undergraduates this year, university officials plan to announce today.
Cole is the chairman and chief creative officer of the clothing brand Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
“Kenneth Cole is an excellent example of a business leader and social entrepreneur who has been successful on the world stage,” President Joseph Aoun said in a statement yesterday. “Today’s graduates will need to be innovative and entrepreneurial to navigate the complex world they will face after graduation.”
Cole has also been involved in various social causes, including AIDS research and ending homelessness, according to the release. He is the current chair of the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and a founding board member to the homeless advocacy organization, HELP. In 2008, Cole launched the AWEARNESS fund, a not-for-profit initiative supporting volunteering and service.
“The story of this businessman and humanitarian will be a wonderful inspiration for Northeastern’s commencement,” President Aoun said.
Last year’s keynote graduation speaker was Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox.
In addition to delivering the keynote address, Cole will receive an honorary Northeastern degree. The other honorary degree recipients are Molly Corbett Broad, the first woman president of the American Council on Education; Barry Shrage, president of Combined Jewish Philanthropies; Dr. Gary Gottlieb, president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Keith Motley, chancellor of UMass Boston; and Angela Menino, wife of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.
Dr. Gottlieb will also give the keynote address for the afternoon commencement service.
Nominations for commencement speaker are solicited by the President’s Office and are vetted by the Commencement Committee and the Board of Trustees, who have the final say on the selection, according to an article in the March 13 issue of the Northeastern News last year. In addition to the speaker, the university accepts suggestions for honorary degree candidates, which are also presented at each commencement ceremony.
Undergraduate commencement will take place at 10:30 a.m. on May 1 at the TD Banknorth Garden.

8 comments

Anonymous

Sun Jun 21 2009 15:25

I understand the skepticism that was elicited by this announcement, but I hope that the posters below who were anticipating a less than spectacular speech were surprised to hear a heartfelt, well articulated address that was interesting, informative, and real. He's no Bill Clinton, but he was certainly was not disappointing.

espace

Fri May 8 2009 16:27

I attended the commencement and Kenneth Cole's speech was far superior to many others that I have heard. His speech was not the ordinary "now go out and grab your piece of the pie". He talked about challenges that will face these 2,700 NEU graduates not to mention all of the other 2009 College graduates that will be hitting the job market in the next few weeks. He was quite inspiring not only to the graduates but to many of us parents who may have lost jobs recently. He represents a businessman, employer, philanthropist and an overall human being. What a wonderful speech in these tough times. I believe the NEU 2009 Graduates were very lucky and privileged to have heard Kenneth Cole's Commencement Address.

Jim

Fri Apr 17 2009 16:37

Class of 1993 got Bill Clinton (during his term)
Class of 1996 got Mikhail S. Gorbachev, former President of the Soviet Union.
Class of 2006 got Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE
Class of 2008 got Christopher Cox, SEC Chairman
In 2008 the Law School got Stephen Breyer, United States Supreme Court Justice

... and in 2009 Northeastern gets a fashion designer. What a shame.

Tell me Northeastern, is this progress?

lmao

Sat Apr 11 2009 13:34

Well said, the three posters below me. Seriously NU, a fashion designer? Seriously? Yes, he's donated money and is involved in various causes that help people, but damn, at least get a philanthropist to speak that will actually keep people awake during their speech, like Sir Richard Branson, the all-mighty J.K. Rowling, or Bill Gates (even though his OS BLOWS, switch to Linux!) No, we get a fashion designer. YAY, I CAN HARDLY WAIT. Why do I have a feeling that the school's Travel Pillow black market will soon eclipse people wanting extra tickets for graduation in demand?

Aliens abducted their Brains

Fri Apr 10 2009 23:33

Plain and simple, Aoun has destroyed this University's progress. And stunts like this prove it. Cmon, you cannot tell me that we couldn't do better than a obnoxious fashion designer. Student groups get better speakers than this, how in the world does the administration not have the resources to find someone of quality?

senior09

Fri Apr 10 2009 19:10

I cannot believe what a poor choice NU has made in commencement speaker. I am embarrassed that my family will be driving for six hours to attend this ceremony, only to hear a clothing designer wax poetic about his charity work. Nonsense. Wealth does not equal humanitarianism (any fool with a loaded bank roll can "save the world"), and there are students at NU who have set just as wonderful an example with their creative ideas and genuine charitable work. I'd rather hear from one of them. When a graduation ceremony is like ours, with no calling of names or any other personal touch, the speaker better be someone worth hearing because it is the only reason we go. Otherwise it is just a waste of time. Shameful, NU.

grumpy

Fri Apr 10 2009 10:50

Seriously? ARGH

Look at us! We support an industry that promotes anorexia and young girls dressing like hookers! Aren't we a great university? Doesn't this make you want to enroll?

*sigh*

lmao

Thu Apr 9 2009 12:31

Just curious whether or not Cole was the only one considered or if there were others and who they are...

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