Wilson to Address Grads

Patrick Wilson

With a program celebrating its unique blend of strengths across disciplines, Carnegie Mellon University announces that the critically acclaimed actor, alumnus and CMU board of trustee member — Patrick Wilson (A'95) — will deliver the keynote address for its 115th Commencement.

Wilson, who graduated in 1995 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in drama, will address nearly 4,000 graduates and an estimated audience of about 10,000 at 11 a.m., Sunday, May 20, in CMU's Gesling Stadium.

"The breadth and depth of Patrick's work demonstrates to our graduating seniors that education and perseverance beget success," said CMU President Jared L. Cohon. "We are grateful to have Patrick back on campus for this important occasion."

The award-winning actor has quickly become well-known for his body of work in film, television and on stage. His most recent credits include the film "Young Adult," the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," and the CBS medical drama "A Gifted Man."

"I'm delighted to meet and speak with the very distinguished and accomplished class of 2012," Wilson said. "Who knows, the paths ahead might lead any one of this year's graduates back to CMU to serve as the keynote speaker at commencement someday."

Wilson also met his wife at CMU, fellow drama alumna and actress, Dagmara Dominczyk (A'98).

Joining Wilson on stage at commencement will be Caroline Kessler, a creative writing major and religious studies minor, as this year's student speaker. The December 2011 graduate of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences is a recipient of two academic scholarships, a CMU Press Poetry Prize, and English Department writing awards for poetry and fiction.

Kessler has traveled to CMU's campus in Qatar as part of the university's IMPAQT (Initiating Meaningful Pittsburgh and Qatar Ties) program, spent a semester studying in India and a summer working with a human rights organization in Poland.

A CMU Commencement tradition is to award honorary degrees to exemplary leaders, whose life and work serve as an inspiration for Carnegie Mellon students, faculty and staff. The diversity of this year's candidates represents the intersection of art and technology, a university hallmark. Receiving honorary degrees will be:

Renée Fleming, the famed soprano and Grammy Award winner, will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts.
Temple Grandin, whose remarkable achievements as an autistic child and as a young woman were the subject of an HBO film, will be awarded a Doctor of Science and Technology.
Ruth Gruber, a humanitarian whose heroism is celebrated in the 2010 documentary "Ahead of Time," will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters.
Daniel Kahneman, the 2002 Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences will be presented with a Doctor of Business Practice.
Richard P. Simmons, chairman of the board, emeritus, of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated and former CEO of Allegheny Ludlum, will receive a Doctor of Science and Technology.

Learn more about CMU's 2012 commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients.