Jane Lubchenco, marine ecologist and world-renowned leader in environmental research, will deliver the commencement address at Oregon State’s 150th graduation ceremony.
“As a university committed to addressing the planet’s most pressing issues, we are thrilled that our graduating students will hear from one of the world’s most prominent environmental scientists,” said President Ed Ray. “Jane’s research contributions and leadership at OSU, nationally and globally are profound and long term. It is fitting that she will speak at our 150th commencement ceremony.”
Lubchenco will receive an honorary doctorate degree in ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences as part of OSU’s commencement, which will be held on Saturday, June 15, at Reser Stadium.
Lubchenco is a distinguished university professor and has been instrumental as an advisor to Ray as the university has undertaken its marine studies initiative. A former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, she is one of the world’s most highly cited ecologists with expertise in the ocean, climate change and interactions between the environment and human well-being. She served as an undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere within the Obama administration and later as the State Department’s first science envoy for the ocean.
