List of Fordham University commencement speakers

The following is a list of keynote speakers at the commencement of Fordham University.

Commencement Speakers 1941–present^[1]

1. 2015 Nana Lordina Dramani Mahama, First Lady of the Republic of Ghana ^[2]
2. 2014 Tino Martinez, former NY Yankee^[3]
3. 2013 Richard Engel, NBC News correspondent
4. 2012 John O. Brennan, Deputy National Security Advisor; now CIA Director
5. 2011 Brian Williams, NBC anchor
6. 2010 Mary McAleese, President of Ireland
7. 2009 Tom Brokaw
8. 2008 Charlie Rose
9. 2007 Willie Randolph
10. 2006 Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC'S Hardball
11. 2005 John Sexton, New York University President
12. 2004 Tim Russert, of NBC's Meet the Press
13. 2003 Ted Koppel, of ABC Nightline
14. 2002 Gerald Levin, former CEO, AOL Time Warner
15. 2001 Bill Cosby, actor, comedian, best-selling author, educator
16. 2000 Vin Scully, Hall of Fame broadcaster, Los Angeles Dodgers
17. 1999 George Mitchell, former US Senator / David Copperfield, magician
18. 1998 Judge Joseph M. McLaughlin, former dean of Fordham's School of Law
19. 1997 Mary Higgins Clark
20. 1996 Rev. Joseph O'Hare, President of Fordham
21. 1995 Mary Robinson, President of Ireland
22. 1994 Jonathan Kozol, author, Savage Inequalities
23. 1993 Peter Steinfels, NY Times Religion Editor
24. 1992 Dr. John Brademas, former Congressman, president emeritus of New York University
25. 1991 Marion Wright Edelman, Children’s Defense Fund
26. 1990 William P Ford, activist (Jesuit killings in El Salvador)
27. 1989 Fr. Timothy S. Healy, President of Georgetown
28. 1988 Charles Osgood
29. 1987 Senator Alphonse D'Amato
30. 1986 Robert Hayes, founder of Coalition for the Homeless
31. 1985 Mario Cuomo, Governor of NY
32. 1984 Rev. James Finlay, President of Fordham
33. 1983 Felix G. Rohatyn
34. 1982 Seamus Heaney, poet
35. 1981 Paulo Evaristo Cardinal Arns, Archbishop of São Paulo
36. 1980 Patricia Harris, Secretary of Health and Human Services
37. 1979 Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor
38. 1978 Alan Alda
39. 1977 Thomas A Murphy, Chairman General Motors
40. 1976 Governor Hugh Carey
41. 1975 Judge William Hughes Mulligan
42. 1974 Governor Malcolm Wilson
43. 1973 Dr. Ernest Boyer, Chancellor of State University of New York
44. 1972 Kurt Waldheim, UN Secretary General
45. 1971 James Hester, President of NYU
46. 1970 Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
47. 1969 Sen. Ted Kennedy
48. 1968 Leo McGlaughlin (eulogy and mass for Bobby Kennedy)
49. 1967 Sen. Robert F Kennedy
50. 1966 Rev. Vincent T O'Keefe, President of Fordham
51. 1965 Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey
52. 1964 Francis Cardinal Spellman
53. 1963 Sargent Shriver
54. 1962 Teodoro Moscoso, Alliance for Progress
55. 1961 Joseph W McGovern, FU law professor and member of NYS Board of Regents
56. 1960 Dr. Charles H Malik, President of UN General Assembly
57. 1959 Cardinal Cushing
58. 1958 W.A. Harriman, Governor of NY
59. 1957 Rev. Laurence McGinley
60. 1956 Rev. Laurence McGinley
61. 1955 Rev. Laurence McGinley
62. 1954 Robert D Murphy, Deputy Under Secretary of State
63. 1953 Rev. Laurence McGinley
64. 1952 Msgr. John Middleton, education secretary Arch of NY
65. 1951 Rev. Laurence McGinley
66. 1950 Rev. Laurence McGinley
67. 1949 Rev. Laurence McGinley
68. 1948 Rev. Robert Gannon
69. 1947 Msgr. Ferdinand Vandry, Director of Laval University
70. 1946 Gov. Thomas Dewey (President Truman received an honorary degree and gave an address but this was not at June Commencement, it was in May)
71. 1945 Major General Sir Walter Maxwell Scott
72. 1944 Rev. Robert Gannon
73. 1943 Rev. Robert Gannon
74. 1942 Rev. Robert Gannon
75. 1941 Bishop J. Francis McIntyre

References

1. "Fordham Commencement Speakers 1941-present - Fordham University History - Research Guides @ Fordham at Fordham University Libraries". fordham.libguides.com. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
2. "First Lady of Ghana to Speak at Fordham's 170th Commencement; Nine Others to Receive Honorary Degrees". news.fordham.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
3. http://fordhamram.com/2014/04/28/tino-martinez-former-yankee-confirmed-as-graduation-speaker/