A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a leading Kenyan social justice activist and the CEO of McDonald’s will be among the distinguished honorary degree recipients and speakers at DePaul University’s 113th commencement ceremonies June 11 and 12.

Below is a listing of the locations, dates, times and brief profiles of the honorees at each of DePaul’s seven commencement ceremonies. The June 11 ceremonies for the College of Education; the School of Music and The Theatre School (combined); and the School for New Learning will be held at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. The June 12 ceremonies for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; the College of Communication and the College of Computing and Digital Media (combined); and the College of Commerce will be held at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont, Ill.  The College of Law held its commencement May 15 at the opera house, presenting  Anne R. Pramaggiore, president and chief operating officer of Commonwealth Edison, with an honorary degree.

College of Education

June 11, 8:30 a.m.

Speaker: Terry Mazany is president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust and a longtime philanthropic leader who has spearheaded public school improvements in several of the nation’s larger metropolitan areas, including Chicago, where he recently served as interim CEO of the Chicago Public Schools.

School of Music and The Theatre School

June 11, 11:45 a.m.

Speaker: John von Rhein, one of the most enduring and influential observers of the world of classical music, has served as the chief classical music critic for the Chicago Tribune since 1977.   

School for New Learning

June 11, 2:30 p.m.

Speaker: Miriam K. Were is an internationally known physician and public health advocate who has addressed major disease, substance abuse and economic development issues in her native Kenya through the UZIMA Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband.

Also being honored by SNL is Don Mullan, a leading activist in the international nonviolent human rights movement who was a witness to the infamous 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre and who, years later, debunked the official investigation into the matter by the British government.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

June 12, 8 a.m.

Speaker: Claude M. Steele is provost of Columbia University and a highly acclaimed professor of psychology who has led groundbreaking research in such social phenomenon as stereotyping and self-image.

College of Communication and College of Computing and Digital Media

June 12, noon

Speaker: Isabel Wilkerson is an award-winning journalist, former New York Times Chicago bureau chief and author acclaimed for her detailed and empathetic feature writing. The first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for journalism, she is also a groundbreaking figure in American news. Wilkerson is the author of a highly acclaimed book on the great migration of African-Americans to the north.

College of Commerce

June 12, 4 p.m.

Speaker: James Skinner is a leading executive and noted innovator in the food service industry who currently serves as vice chairman and CEO of McDonald’s Corp. He is also a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War.

Also being honored by the College of Commerce:

James L. Czech is president of the real estate consultancy The James L. Czech Co. LLC. Prior to starting his own company in 2002, Czech served as an executive with Urban Retail Properties Co., at the time the nation’s third-largest retail property management firm; JMB Retail Properties Co.; and Federated Stores Realty Inc.

John L. Keeley Jr. is the founder, president and chief investment officer of Keeley Asset Management Corp., a Chicago-based registered investment advising firm that manages $7 billion in assets. He also founded, directs and serves as president of Keeley Funds Inc., a family of six registered mutual funds with $5 billion in net assets. 

Students, graduates and families seeking more information about the commencement ceremonies should visit the Academic Affairs Commencement 2011 website:

http://oaa.depaul.edu/what/commencement_schedule.jsp.

Links to live video streams of the ceremonies also will be available on this web page.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Media seeking to cover these events should contact John Holden at (312) 362-7165 or jholden2@depaul.edu.