Centennial Convocation to be held Sept. 17
August 26, 2009
Lesley University kicks off its Centennial year on Thursday, Sept. 17 by holding an academic procession and convocation at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Inside, attendees will be addressed by Children’s Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman, as well as President Joseph B. Moore and President Emerita Margaret A. McKenna.
“Lesley University is celebrating 100 years of excellence in education, of preparing people for careers that truly make a difference in the lives of children, families and communities,” Moore said. “Marian Wright Edelman’s life and career on behalf of children and families are a living embodiment of Lesley’s mission, an inspirational example of the impact one person can make. We are honored to have her play a prominent role in our celebration.”
The ceremony, which begins at 4 p.m., is preceded by an academic procession from 29 Everett St. - the same building where Edith Lesley founded the school - to Sanders Theatre. The theater is located at 45 Quincy St. in Cambridge.
In addition to the keynote from Edelman, the convocation ceremony will include musical performances. Additional event details will be posted as the convocation approaches.
Marian Wright Edelman founded the non-profit Children’s Defense Fund in 1973 to advocate on behalf of children at the federal, state and local levels. A graduate of Yale Law School, Edelman was the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar. She was close to the Civil Rights Movement, directing the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund office in Jackson, Miss. She later moved to Washington D.C. to work with the Poor People’s Campaign, founded by Martin Luther King, Jr. Edelman is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.