Peter B. Edelman, Georgetown University Law Center professor, will receive an honorary degree and give the commencement address as DePaul University College of Law graduates receive their degrees at 2:30 p.m., June 14, at the Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave. A reception will follow at the Marriott Hotel, 540 N. Michigan Ave.

Until 1996, Edelman was the assistant secretary for planning and evaluation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He resigned that position to protest President Clinton’s signing of the welfare reform bill.

He is married to Marian Wright Edelman, nationally known children’s rights advocate, who received an honorary degree from DePaul in 1990.

"Peter Edelman is an excellent example of a person who has combined academic and scholarly leadership with important work in government and other public service," said Acting Dean Mark Weber. "He is a man of achievement and integrity, and sets an example of commitment to the public interest."

Edelman, a member of the Georgetown faculty since 1982, had served as issues director in the 1980 presidential campaign of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and was a legislative assistant to the late Robert F. Kennedy from 1965 to 1968.

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He was director of the New York State Division for Youth from 1975 to 1979, and from 1973 to 1975 he was vice president for university policy at the University of Massachusetts.

He received his undergraduate degree magna cum laude in economics from Harvard College in 1958, and his LL.B. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1961, where he was treasurer of the Harvard Law Review.

Edelman is the author of numerous articles on poverty, constitutional law and issues relating to children and youth.

David Imielski, who will receive his law degree, will present the student address.

"We are extremely proud of the graduating class, which have committed years of hard work to learning the law and meriting its degrees," said Weber.

DePaul will present more than 3,500 degrees during separate commencement exercises June 13 through June 15.

The weekend’s commencement events will begin with a Baccalaureate Mass at 4 p.m., June 13, at St. Vincent’s Church, 1010 W. Webster Ave., for graduates, their families and faculty.