Continuing a long line of prominent and engaging national figures who have spoken at National University’s Southern California commencement ceremonies, veteran reporter Lisa Ling served as keynote speaker to the more than 1,3000 graduates at this year’s celebration in San Diego in June.
Ms. Ling currently serves as special correspondent for CNN and the Oprah Winfrey Show. She has also served as a co-host on ABC’s daytime talk show, The View, and was formerly the host of National Geographic Explorer.
Selected at an early age to host Scratch, a nationally-syndicated teen magazine show, Ms. Ling went on to join Channel One News when she was 18, becoming one of the program’s youngest reporters and anchors. She has excelled in assignments all over the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and has won numerous awards for her reporting.
Addressing an audience of approximately 8,200 people, Ms. Ling shared anecdotes from her formative years growing up in Sacramento, and provided an inspirational perspective of her journalism career. She joins other female journalists who have addressed National University graduates, including 60 Minutes reporter Leslie Stahl and Good Morning America’s co-host Robin Roberts.
Following her commencement remarks, Dr. Jerry C. Lee, Chancellor of the National University System, presented Ms. Ling with an honorary doctorate degree from National University.
Two prominent faculty members also were recognized during the ceremony. Chancellor Lee conferred the status of Professor Emeritus upon Dr. Jane Duckett and Dr. Mary Hazzard, both from the School of Education’s Department of Special Education; and presented the 2009 Faculty Senate Distinguished Teaching Award to Dr. Iraj Mahdavi, associate professor in the School of Business and Management’s Department of Management and Marketing.
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