The president of the largest philanthropic trust in the United States, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, will be the commencement speaker at St. Edward’s University’s upcoming graduation ceremony.

The university will release an official announcement next week that Vartan Gregorian, 77, a long-time educator and president of Brown University from 1989-1997 will address graduating St. Edward’s students on May 14 at the Frank Erwin Center.

The Iranian-born Gregorian, who earned his Ph.D in history and humanities from Stanford University in 1964, will also receive an honorary degree from St. Edward’s. He has already received more than 60 honorary degrees in his career.

Gregorian could not be reached for comment as he is currently in Vienna, Austria, his staff said.

St. Edward’s spokeswoman Mischelle Diaz released the citation that will be read before Gregorian’s speech. The citation explains Gregorian’s selection for the honorary degree. A portion of it reads, “Today, it is our privilege to honor Vartan Gregorian, who embodies the mission of St. Edward’s University and the legacy of Holy Cross. It can genuinely be said that the impact of his life and work on higher education has transformed the hearts and minds of students around the world and is testament to the words of Father Basil Moreau: ‘The future is entirely in the generation beginning