Two Western New York natives will return home in May to deliver the undergraduate and graduate commencement addresses to the Class of 2014.
CNN’s lead political anchor and former Kenmore resident, Wolf Blitzer, will address the undergraduate class, during ceremonies on Saturday, May 17 in the Koessler Athletic Center. The host of “The Situation Room” began his tenure at the network 20 years ago, as its Pentagon correspondent. He went on to cover the top news stories, at home and abroad.
Throughout his broadcasting career, which began in 1972, Blitzer has reported on some of history’s most notable national and international political figures. He has interviewed every sitting U.S. president since Gerald Ford. Blitzer has also interviewed such foreign leaders as Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, South African President Nelson Mandela and the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
In addition to politics, Blitzer is known for his in-depth reporting on international news. Most recently, he traveled to Cairo, Egypt to interview the country’s first democratically-elected leader, President Mohamed Morsy. In December 2010, Blitzer was granted rare access to travel to North Korea with former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. As the only network journalist, he took viewers inside the communist, totalitarian regime with reports from the rarely seen streets of Pyongyang and Kim II-sung University.
Jon Luther is also a Kenmore native and a veteran of the food-service industry. He is credited, most recently, with the transformation, revitalization and global expansion of Dunkin’ Brands, which owns, operates and franchises restaurants under the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins brands.
During his decade-long tenure with the corporation, Luther expanded the business from its core Northeast region to key markets in the U.S. and abroad. He modernized Dunkin’ Brands menus, and enhanced the quality, convenience and value of its quick-service restaurants.
A proven leader in creative brand development, Luther also re-energized the company’s marketing efforts, which led to Dunkin’ Donuts’ award-winning campaign “America Runs on Dunkin’.”
Canisius will confer honorary degrees upon Jon Luther and Wolf Blitzer during commencement ceremonies.
Submitted by: Marketing and Communication
