Cokie Roberts, a political analyst for ABC News and National Public Radio, has been chosen to deliver the keynote address at convocation Sept. 18, 2007, as part of Baker University’s BU@150 celebration and as the featured speaker in the Loreine Collins Dietrich Distinguished Lecture Series.
Roberts has made an impact both nationally and internationally in her career as a broadcaster for more than 30 years, as a contributing editor to USA Magazine and as a reporter for “World News Tonight”. She’s received two Emmy Awards, a citation from the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcasting and induction into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.
Annette Galluzzi, vice president for marketing, said Roberts’ political and cultural perspectives would be a great way of celebrating Baker’s history.
“Since we’re celebrating 150 years (the 150 Steering Committee) felt like it would be great if we could get someone who had served over a span of time and could talk about today’s issues in reference to the time,” she said.
Galluzzi said the opportunities the speaker will provide would be limitless.
“The thing that I am most excited about is that the Baker community will have the opportunity to share a journalist of this caliber-having such a great journalism program here-I think it’s a great opportunity for our student journalists to be able to see and learn from someone who has been such an important person in the broadcast journalism industry,” she said.
Assistant Professor of Communication Joe Watson said Baker is fortunate to have such a well-known, Washington D.C. figure coming to campus.
“It’s really incredible that someone of her stature is coming here,” he said. “The attention it will bring to Baker, the opportunity it will provide our students interacting with somebody like that-I just think it’s spectacular.”