Teach For America co-CEO to address DPU commencement

Thursday, April 4, 2013
Elisa Villanueva Beard

Elisa Villanueva Beard, co-chief executive officer of Teach For America and 1998 graduate of DePauw University, will return to her alma mater to deliver the primary address at DePauw's 174th annual commencement.

The ceremonies are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 19 in Holton Memorial Quadrangle.

In addition, three distinguished individuals -- Margaret G. Hermann, Janet Prindle Seidler and Randall T. Shepard -- will be awarded honorary doctoral degrees during the program.

Villanueva Beard joined Teach For America's staff in 2001 to lead the organization's work in her hometown in the position of executive director. Four years later, she stepped into the national role of chief operating officer, leading Teach For America's field operations.

Villanueva Beard oversaw TFA's dramatic growth -- from 22 regions to 46.

Earlier this year, Villanueva Beard was named co-CEO of the national organization, along with Matt Kramer. Under their leadership, Teach For America currently impacts more than 750,000 students in over 2,600 schools. Together they manage the leadership team, work with the board, and are held fully accountable for the organization's success.

"We are part of a true social justice movement in America," Villanueva Beard, who was sociology major at DePauw, told the Houston Chronicle in February. "When you commit to do Teach For America, you are committing to a lifetime. You are committing to understanding deeply, respecting and hopefully falling in love with your children and communities, where you will own this problem in a different way and are committed to solving it for the rest of your life from wherever you sit. I think our intentions and what we are about is building something that is going to change the world and change the country."

Villanueva Beard will also be presented with a Young Alumni Award at the ceremony.

Margaret Hermann

Margaret G. Hermann, Cramer Professor of Global Affairs in the department of political science at Syracuse University and director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, will receive an honorary Doctor of Political Science degree. A 1960 graduate of DePauw, Hermann went on to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology from Northwestern University.

Her research focuses on political leadership, foreign policy decision-making, the comparative study of foreign policy and crisis management. Hermann has worked to develop techniques for assessing the leadership styles of heads of government at a distance and has such data on more than 300 leaders.

She is currently involved in exploring the effects of different types of leaders and decision processes on the management of crises that cross border and boundaries as well as lead governments to experience crises. Her leadership style measures have also been applied to the leaders of transnational NGOs and international organizations.

Janet Prindel Seidler

Janet Prindle Seidler, the retired managing director of Neuberger Berman and 1958 graduate of DePauw, will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree. In 1983, Seidler became the first female partner of Neuberger Berman LLC.

With more than 40 years of investment experience, she is a strong advocate for the career advancement of women and she is an active mentor for young professionals.

She founded the Socially Responsive Investment Group at Neuberger Berman in 1988, which now manages more than $2 billion. Prior to joining Neuberger Berman, she held portfolio management positions with Bessemer Trust Co., E.F. Hutton and Moody's Investor Services.

Randall Shepard

Randall T. Shepard, who served 25 years as chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from DePauw in May.

Shepard currently serves as executive in residence at the Public Policy Institute of Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He is also a senior judge in the Indiana Court of Appeals and is chairman of the American Bar Association Task Force on the Future of Legal Education.

Shepard earned an A.B. degree cum laude from Princeton University, his J.D. from the Yale Law School, and an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

He was appointed the 99th justice of the Indiana Supreme Court by Gov. Robert D. Orr in 1985. Shepard was chosen to become the chief justice of Indiana in March 1987, then the youngest state chief justice.

During his judicial career, Shepard served as president of the Conference of Chief Justices and as chairman of the National Center for State Courts. He was also president of the Appellate Judges Conference, representing 700 state and federal judges in the American Bar Association.

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