Commencement 2009 Honorary Degree Recipients and Speakers
Honorary degree recipients
During the weekend commencement ceremonies, SDSU will be awarding two honorary degrees.
Former San Diego mayor and California governor Pete Wilson will receive an honorary degree from the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts during the 4 p.m. ceremony on May 23. Wilson served as California’s 36th governor from 1991 to 1999 and before that served as a U.S. senator (1983–1991), mayor of San Diego (1971–1983) and California state assemblyman (1967–1971). As mayor, Wilson helped San Diego transform from a quiet navy town to an international trade hub.
San Diego philanthropist Malin Burnham will receive an honorary degree from the College of Business Administration during the 8 a.m. ceremony on May 23. Burnham founded the Burnham Foundation, a private nonprofit organization, and chairs the Burnham Institute. He is also co-chair of the Kyoto Laureate Symposium, part of which takes place at SDSU each year.
Commencement speakers
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will be addressing College of Arts and Letters graduates at their ceremony on May 22 at 4 p.m.
Darlene Davies will speak at the College of Health and Human Service’s ceremony on May 22 at 11 a.m. Davies is an SDSU professor emerita of communicative disorders and a 2008 Monty Award winner.
SDSU public relations professor and 2008 Monty Award winner David Dozier will address graduates during the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA) 12:30 p.m. ceremony on May 23. Pete Wilson will speak during PSFA’s 4 p.m. ceremony later that day after receiving an honorary degree.
Col. H.R. McMaster will address the graduates from the homeland security master's program at their post-commencement reception on Fri. May 22 at 3 p.m. in Physical Science 130. McMaster is a prominent veteran of the Iraq war and author of "Dereliction of Duty."
