Former Gov. Deval Patrick To Deliver Harvard Graduation Commencement

CAMBRIDGE (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will be Harvard University's commencement speaker.

Patrick, who just finished his second term as governor, graduated from Harvard College in 1978 and from Harvard Law School in 1982.

In making the announcement Monday, Harvard President Drew Faust called Patrick "a deeply dedicated public servant, and an inspiring embodiment of the American dream."

Patrick grew up in Chicago. He came to the Boston area at age 14 on a scholarship to Milton Academy and was the first in his family to attend college.

Patrick, a Democrat, was assistant U.S. attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration. He was a senior executive at Texaco and the Coca-Cola Co. before being elected governor in 2006.

He will speak at Harvard's afternoon commencement May 28.

Harvard