U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will address the graduates at the School of Social Policy and Practice's commencement, the school announced Tuesday.
The Vice President's daughter Ashley Biden will be graduating as a member of the SP2 class of 2010 with a master’s degree in social work.
Originally from Scranton, Pa., Vice President Biden went on to become one of the youngest U.S. senators. His involvement in social justice issues, notably a landmark 1994 Crime Bill and the Violence Against Women Act, made him an appropriate choice to be the speaker.
“Vice President Biden has long supported policy and legislation aimed at social change,” SP2 Dean Richard Gelles wrote in a statement. “We are pleased that he has accepted our invitation to be the Commencement speaker at the graduation exercises.”
Biden has given a number of commencement speeches.
Faculty and students are pleased that Biden will speak at the ceremony, especially since SP2 is one of Penn’s smaller graduate programs.
“I think it’s very exciting that we have such a prominent speaker,” Professor of Social Work Phyllis Solomon said.
“More than anything it’s an honor,” second-year SP2 student Erin Crosby said. “It’s very humbling and beyond exciting that Joe Biden is speaking because we are a relatively small program.”
The address will take place May 17 at 7 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium.
