A congresswoman, a genetic researcher, a university president and two mayors are among those slated to speak at Georgetown University’s commencement ceremonies this year. The ceremonies, marking the 203rd annual celebration at Georgetown, will take place from Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19, 2002.

“These leaders have spent their careers engaged in critical social issues that exemplify how Georgetown graduates can make a difference as they embark upon their own futures,” University President John J. DeGioia said in a press release.

Trinity College President Patricia A. McGuire (LAW ’77) will speak at the ceremonies for the Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences. Before heading Trinity College in 1989, McGuire was the assistant dean for Development and External Affairs for Georgetown University Law Center and project director for Georgetown’s D.C. Street Law Project.

In addition, McGuire is the chair of the Washington Metropolitan Consortium of Universities, a former legal affairs commentator for CBS children’s newsmagazine “30 Minutes” and a former trustee of the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges. She is also a former member of the boards of directors of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Women’s College Coalition.

Genomic researcher J. Craig Venter, Ph.D. is the speaker for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Venter is founder and chairman of the board of the Institute for Genomic Research. In 2000 at a White House press conference held by former President Clinton (SFS ’68), Venter was one of two scientists praised for helping to crack the human genetic code by using one of the first commercial automatic sequencers.

The McDonough School of Business has invited President and CEO of The Calvert Group Barbara J. Krumsiek to speak at their commencement. Selected as one of 25 leading U.S. businesswomen in arch 2001 by the National Organization for Women Legal Defense and Education Fund, Krumsiek was the fourth female CEO in the mutual fund industry. Prior to The Calvert Group, she was also senior vice president and managing director for the mutual fund division of Alliance Capital Management LP.

The highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. Congress, Representative Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA 8th) will speak at the commencement ceremonies of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. In addition to being Democratic Whip for the U.S. House of Representatives since October of 2001, Pelosi is also the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

The School of Nursing and Health Studies’ speaker will be Andrew S. Natsios (CAS ’71), administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which offers humanitarian aid to lesser-developed countries.

Before he was appointed by President George W. Bush to be the Special Coordinator for International Disaster Assistance and Special Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sudan, Natsios was the chairman and CEO of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, vice president of World Vision and member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Children’s books author and illustrator Tomie dePaola will address graduates of the School for Summer and Continuing Education at the commencement ceremonies. DePaola’s books have won prizes including the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution and the Regina Medal and have sold over 5 million copies worldwide. dePaola also serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Children’s Radio Theatre of Washington, D.C., and a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Children’s Book Writers of Los Angeles.

The School of Medicine has asked their former dean, John C. Rose, M.D. (MED ’50), to speak. Former chair of the Department of Physiology, Rose performed the first cardiac catheterization in the Washington area.

The Law Center’s commencement ceremonies will feature a former and present mayor – former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Mayor Anthony Williams of Washington, D.C. Serving as U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York and two-term mayor of New York City, Guiliani has been recognized for his leadership following Sept. 11. The first CFO for the US Department of Agriculture and former Deputy State Comptroller of Connecticut, Williams is the fourth mayor of the District and his term also occurred during the Sept. 11 attacks.

Fox News CEO Roger Ailes and CNN’s “Crossfire” host Paul Begala will speak at the graduate awards ceremonies. Speaking at the McDonough School of Business M.B.A. program, Ailes was the former president of CNBC, received an Emmy Award in 1984, served as a political consultant to Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and founded Ailes Communications, Inc.

The Georgetown Public Policy Institute speaker will be Georgetown government and public policy professor Begala, who was also a West Wing aide for former President Clinton (SFS ’68), as well as former co-host of MSNBC’s “Equal Time.”

The senior convocation speaker will be screenwriter Jonah Nolan (COL ’99). A former Hoya staff member, Nolan wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay, Memento.