{"id":5846,"date":"2017-12-20T16:07:23","date_gmt":"2017-12-20T21:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/?page_id=5846"},"modified":"2025-01-22T11:43:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T16:43:30","slug":"speakers-and-honored-guests","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/y2018\/speakers-and-honored-guests\/","title":{"rendered":"Speakers and Honored Guests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2018 Honorary Degree Recipients<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"display-posts-listing\"><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/gina-mccarthy\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/gina-mccarthy-web.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumb size-thumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Gina McCarthy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/gina-mccarthy-web.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/gina-mccarthy-web-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/gina-mccarthy\/\">Gina McCarthy<\/a> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa Undergraduate Speaker Gina McCarthy, a leading advocate for the protection of public health and the environment, will be the featured speaker for URI's 2018 undergraduate commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 20. <a class=\"excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/gina-mccarthy\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/dr-dharam-v-ablashi\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Dharam-Ablashi-web.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumb size-thumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dr. Dharam Ablashi\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Dharam-Ablashi-web.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Dharam-Ablashi-web-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/dr-dharam-v-ablashi\/\">Dr. Dharam V. Ablashi<\/a> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa Dr. Ablashi is a renowned virologist and humanitarian who has influenced the lives of thousands of people within the field of immunovirology research and beyond. <a class=\"excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/dr-dharam-v-ablashi\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/akihiro-nikkaku\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Akihiro-Nikkaku-web.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumb size-thumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Akihiro Nikkaku\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Akihiro-Nikkaku-web.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Akihiro-Nikkaku-web-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/akihiro-nikkaku\/\">Akihiro Nikkaku<\/a> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Doctor of Business, Honoris Causa As the chief executive officer and chief operating officer of Toray Industries Inc., Mr. Nikkaku is a visionary business leader who supports innovative technologies that address global environmental issues. <a class=\"excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/akihiro-nikkaku\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/anne-mimi-sammis\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Anne-Mimi-Sammis-web.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumb size-thumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Anne Mimi Sammis\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Anne-Mimi-Sammis-web.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Anne-Mimi-Sammis-web-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/anne-mimi-sammis\/\">Anne Mimi Sammis<\/a> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Doctor of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa Anne Mimi Sammis is a Rhode Island-based painter and sculptor whose work is commissioned around the world, and whose willingness to share her gifts and support others\u2019 creativity has inspired thousands. <a class=\"excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/anne-mimi-sammis\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/jim-taricani\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Jim-Taricani-web.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumb size-thumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Jim Taricani\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Jim-Taricani-web.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Jim-Taricani-web-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/jim-taricani\/\">Jim Taricani<\/a> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa Jim Taricani is a former investigative journalist whose integrity and unwavering courage in pursuit of the truth has long set him apart in his profession and beyond. <a class=\"excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/shg2018\/jim-taricani\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Graduate Commencement Speaker<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"display-posts-listing\"><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/graduate-commencement-2018-uri-professor-commentator-maureen-moakley-to-speak-at-graduate-ceremony\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/moakley.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumb size-thumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Maureen Moakley\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/moakley.jpg 521w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/moakley-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/moakley-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/graduate-commencement-2018-uri-professor-commentator-maureen-moakley-to-speak-at-graduate-ceremony\/\">Maureen Moakley<\/a> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">URI professor Maureen Moakley\u2019s keen insights into politics and government have taken her far beyond the classroom \u2014 from the fractious halls of the Rhode Island Statehouse, to the colorful streets of Havana and beyond. <a class=\"excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/graduate-commencement-2018-uri-professor-commentator-maureen-moakley-to-speak-at-graduate-ceremony\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Student Speakers<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"display-posts-listing\"><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/commencement-2018-international-student-to-speak-at-uris-2018-graduate-commencement\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Oleg-Kasakov.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumb size-thumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Oleg Kasakov\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Oleg-Kasakov.jpg 401w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Oleg-Kasakov-201x300.jpg 201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/commencement-2018-international-student-to-speak-at-uris-2018-graduate-commencement\/\">Oleg Kazakov<\/a> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Graduate Student Speaker Oleg Kazakov, a University of Rhode Island doctoral student from Moscow who will receive a Ph.D. in chemistry, has been selected as student speaker for the 2018 Graduate School Commencement on Saturday, May 19, in the Ryan Center. <a class=\"excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/commencement-2018-international-student-to-speak-at-uris-2018-graduate-commencement\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/commencement-2018-rhode-islander-selected-as-student-speaker-for-uri-commencement\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Ellis-Iacono-web.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumb size-thumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ellis Iacono\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Ellis-Iacono-web.jpg 401w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1303\/Ellis-Iacono-web-201x300.jpg 201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/commencement-2018-rhode-islander-selected-as-student-speaker-for-uri-commencement\/\">Ellis Iacono<\/a> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Undergraduate Student Speaker Ellis Iacono, a biology and journalism double major from Barrington, Rhode Island, was chosen by the URI Student Senate to represent the Class of 2018 as its student speaker. <a class=\"excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uri.edu\/news\/commencement-2018-rhode-islander-selected-as-student-speaker-for-uri-commencement\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2018 Honorary Degree Recipients Graduate Commencement Speaker Student Speakers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":581,"featured_media":0,"parent":5750,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-5846","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/581"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5846"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16032,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5846\/revisions\/16032"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}