Napolitano to give Northeastern University’s commencement address

University of California President Janet Napolitano will give the commencement address at Northeastern University in Boston after being invited to speak there, according to a Northeastern statement released Wednesday.

Napolitano will give the private research university’s 112th commencement address to about 20,000 people on May 2.

“The breadth and depth of Pres­i­dent Napolitano’s achievements – as governor of Ari­zona, sec­re­tary of Home­land Secu­rity and now as the leader of one of the world’s great sys­tems of higher education – are inspiring,” said Joseph Aoun, president of Northeastern University, in the statement. “Her com­mit­ment to making an impact on society through public ser­vice is exem­plary of the accom­plished, fulfilled life we aspire for all North­eastern grad­u­ates to achieve.”

Northeastern officials cited Napolitano’s past work as governor of Arizona and secretary of Homeland Security, including a 19-member academic advisory council on homeland security she convened that Aoun currently sits on.

“Higher edu­ca­tion is the key to devel­oping future gen­er­a­tions of the indi­vid­uals who will ensure the strength of com­mu­ni­ties across our nation and beyond our bor­ders,” Napoli­tano said in the statement. “It’s an honor to have been asked to address the North­eastern Uni­ver­sity grad­u­ates who will help lead the way.”

Napolitano will also give the keynote speech at the UC Hastings College of the Law commencement on May 10.

“She’s increasingly developing a national voice as an advocate of higher education … particularly public higher education,” said Steve Montiel, a UC spokesman.

Compiled by Kristen Taketa, Bruin senior staff.