CNN’s Van Jones slated to deliver Morehouse graduation address

Van Jones, who came into national prominence as a White House policy adviser to President Barack Obama, before parlaying that into a career as a political correspondent for CNN, will be the keynote speaker for Morehouse College’s 133rd Commencement Ceremony.

“As Morehouse College celebrates its 150th year of serving scholars, we are honored to have Van Jones, a world-renowned journalist, political insider, and best-selling author as our graduation speaker,” said Morehouse College Interim President Bill Taggart. “At Morehouse, we groom scholars to become change-agents in business and government, in math and science, and in the arts.

Jones is the host of “The Messy Truth,” a town hall political series on CNN.

As President Obama’s green jobs adviser, Jones helped to lead the inter-agency process that oversaw $80 billion in green energy skills training and economic recovery spending.

Taggart said Jones is a perfect example of what it takes to serve communities.

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Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC

Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC

“Van Jones’ work in social justice and the environment will inspire our students to become servant leaders in their careers,” Taggart said.

Jones will deliver the keynote address at Morehouse College’s Commencement Exercises at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 21, at Century Campus, the courtyard in front of historic Graves Hall, Morehouse College’s oldest building.

More than 300 members of the Class of 2017 will receive degrees on Graduation Day.

Jones, who has a law degree from Yale University, is currently a fellow at the MIT Media Lab. He is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, “The Green Collar Economy,” and “Rebuild the Dream,” which traces his journey as an activist to his role at the White House.

“It is appropriate and timely to pause during our celebration for graduating scholars to welcome a voice that will allow us to reflect on the political, social, and economic climates and assess how we are able to, in our respective areas of work, improve and advance global communities as world-defining leaders,” said Demarius Brinkley, president of Morehouse’s Senior Class Council.

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