Chris Cook
Staff Writer

Smithsonian Institution Secretary G. Wayne Clough and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer have been chosen as this year’s Commencement speakers. Clough will speak on May 21 at the graduate ceremony, and Hoyer will speak three days later to the undergraduates.
Clough left his position at the Georgia Institute of Technology as President in July 2008 to serve as the Smithsonian’s secretary. He is the only graduate of Georgia Tech to go on to become the school’s president. He’s also occupied a number of different positions, including professor, dean, and provost at different universities throughout his career. “We look forward to continuing to develop UMBC’s relationship with Dr. Clough and the Smithsonian,” commented associate vice president Lisa Akchin.

Hoyer has represented Maryland’s 5th Congressional District for 30 years. He is also recognized for being the highest ranking member of Congress from Maryland in history.

Typically, commencement speakers receive honorary degrees from UMBC, which is the case for Clough. Hoyer, however, will speak but not receive a degree, because university policy discourages awarding honorary degrees to sitting elected officials.

The Provost’s Office receives recommendations from the campus community each year in order to create a pool of possible honorary degree recipients. President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Elliot Hirshman then review the candidates based on the opportunity to create partnerships for the university, achievement, commitment to values important to UMBC, and others. Finally, the selected candidates are reviewed and approved by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.