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Release date: Feb. 26, 2008 Bernie Marcus Named Emory Commencement Speaker
"Bernie Marcus embodies the excellence of mind, strength of character and passion for the common good that exemplify the Emory vision," says Emory University President James Wagner, who will preside over the ceremony for about 3,500 graduates. "His success in business is a tribute not only to his brilliance but also to his capacity to form and build on lasting partnerships. And his philanthropy on behalf of children, medical research, the Jewish community and the people of Georgia grows out of a very large heart. He will be a very compelling speaker for our graduating class." Three other individuals also will be recognized during commencement with honorary degrees: • mental health advocate Mary Jane England, currently president of Regis College in Massachusetts, who will receive a doctor of science; • award-winning writer Ernest Gaines, author of "A Lesson Before Dying," who will receive a doctor of humane letters; and, • renowned Harvard University biologist and conservationist E. O. Wilson, who will receive a doctor of science. Marcus was co-founder and served as chairman of the board of the Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, until his retirement in 2002. He remains director emeritus and Home Depot's largest single stockholder. Marcus's civic involvement includes the creation of The Marcus Foundation where he serves as chairman of the board. His areas of focus include Jewish causes, children, medical research, free enterprise and the community. A centerpiece of his desire to give back to the community is the $290 million Georgia Aquarium, which opened in Atlanta in November of 2005 and is the largest aquarium in the world. In 1991, he and his wife, Billi, established The Marcus Institute in Atlanta, which provides programs for children and adolescents with disorders of the brain and support to their families. The Marcus Institute expanded nationally in 1998 when it joined forces with the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. The institute began as the Marcus Developmental Resource Center at Emory in 1991 as a result of a generous donation to the Children's Research Center at Emory. Today, many of the institute's professionals hold faculty appointments through the Emory Department of Pediatrics and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and it is an approved site for the Emory Pediatric Residency Program. Among his philanthropies is the founding of the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem. The non-partisan and non-political think tank serves as an important resource and change agent, dealing with the complex issues facing Israeli democratic society. Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz serves as Honorary Chairman. Marcus continues to serve in numerous leadership roles with the Shepherd Center, the City of Hope, the Marcus Jewish Community Center and Business Executives for National Security. A native of Newark, N. J., Marcus received his B.S. degree in pharmacy from Rutgers University. ### Emory University (www.emory.edu) is one of the nation’s leading private research universities and a member of the Association of American Universities. Known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities, Emory is ranked as one of the country's top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system. Subscribe to News@Emory RSS feeds for automatic updates of the latest news at Emory. |
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