U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will deliver the keynote address at Emory University's 166th Commencement ceremony Monday, May 9.

"As our graduating students set forth to shape their own lives and careers, they will be well served by the example of Janet Napolitano, who has used her exceptional intelligence, integrity and humanity in behalf of positive transformation in the world," says President Jim Wagner, who will preside over the ceremony for about 3,600 graduates.  Commencement takes place on the Quadrangle at 8 a.m. with more than 14,000 in attendance.

President Barack Obama nominated Napolitano, and she was confirmed for the post in January 2009. Napolitano is the third secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and leads the nation's collective efforts to secure the United States from threats ranging from terrorism to natural disasters. She oversees Homeland Security's responsibilities related to counterterrorism, border security, immigration enforcement, and disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Prior to becoming secretary, Napolitano was in her second term as governor of Arizona and was recognized as a national leader on homeland security, border security and immigration. She was the first woman to chair the National Governors Association and was named one of the top five governors in the country by Time Magazine. Napolitano also was the first female Attorney General of Arizona and served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona.

She is a graduate of Santa Clara University, where she won a Truman Scholarship and was the university's first female valedictorian, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.

See www.emory.edu/commencement for more.

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