Professor Benjamin J. Cohen and political science alumna, the Reverend Anne Sutherland Howard '75, have been selected to be speakers at commencement exercises in 2009.

Benjamin J. Cohen was selected by Dean of Social Sciences Melvin Oliver to be a speaker at one of the two social sciences commencement ceremonies on Saturday, June 11, 2009. 

Dean Oliver comments, "This year, I decided I would highlight some of our distinguished faculty as commencement speakers.  Jerry Cohen came to mind immediately.  He has demonstrated in his career that ideas and scholarship matter.  I have no doubt that Jerry Cohen will challenge our young graduates to use their lives in ways that not only lead to individual success but also contribute to collective well-being." 

Cohen joined the political science faculty in 1991 as Louis Lancaster Professor of International Political Economy.  He is the author of several books, including the most recent, International Political Economy: An Intellectual HIstory.  The text of his commencement address is available here.

The Reverend Anne Sutherland Howard received her B.A. in political science from UCSB in 1975 and also received and M.A. in socail ethics from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.   She was ordained to the priesthood in 1988.  She is currently Executive Director of the Beatitudes Society, a new organization building a national network for progressive Christian seminarians.  Before taking the position with the Beatitudes Society, she was Associate Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, where she continues as Preacher-in-Residence.

Reverend Howard will be speaking at graduate commencement services on Sunday, June 12, 2009.