News Release
San Francisco's Mayor Newsom to Keynote SF State Commencement
More than 20,000 expected to attend May 24 exercises
SAN FRANCISCO, April 16, 2008 -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will be the keynote speaker at San Francisco State University's 107th Commencement held on Saturday, May 24 at 1 p.m. (student procession begins at 12:15) in Cox Stadium on campus. Mayor Newsom has partnered with SF State on a variety of initiatives and programs since he became San Francisco's 42nd mayor in 2004. Among these partnerships is SF Promise, a program that guarantees acceptance to SF State for San Francisco high school students who qualify for college.
"Mayor Newsom is a visionary leader whose policies and practices embody San Francisco's unique strengths and values," SF State President Robert A. Corrigan said. "He is a strong supporter of higher education who appreciates the contribution San Francisco State makes towards economic development and the cultural life of this great city."
Now serving his second term, Mayor Newsom enjoys an international reputation for innovative solutions to problems ranging from homelessness to climate change. He took office facing historic budget deficits, widespread unemployment and commercial office building vacancies due to the "dot.com bust." By the time Newsom completed his first term, millions of dollars of waste had been cut from the City budget, unemployment in the City was reduced by 26 percent and 117 companies had relocated to San Francisco.
Named one of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders, Mayor Newsom, 40, has demonstrated a personal commitment to equality. Just weeks after his first inauguration, he defied federal restrictions and ordered San Francisco's City and County Clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In 2005, Mayor Newsom pledged that San Francisco would undertake universal healthcare for all San Franciscans. Healthy San Francisco, which ensured that all 82,000 San Franciscans without health insurance would get access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare, was launched in July 2007.
A native of San Francisco, Newsom previously served two terms on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He holds a B.A. in political science from Santa Clara University.
SF State is the only master’s-level public university serving the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin. The University enrolls more than 30,000 students each year and graduates about 7,000 annually. With nationally acclaimed programs in a range of fields -- from creative writing, cinema and biology to history, broadcast and electronic communication arts, theatre arts and ethnic studies -- the University’s more than 140,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. For more information about SF State's 2008 Commencement, visit http://www.sfsu.edu/commencement/
Share this story:
