Social activist Geoffrey Canada to speak at UPenn commencement

The University of Pennsylvania has announced social activist Geoffrey Canada will be this year’s commencement speaker.

Canada, who founded the Harlem Children’s Zone, will talk about the American Education System.
“When we choose a speaker, we think of who is right for the time,” University Secretary Leslie Kruhly told the Daily Penn.

In keeping with tradition, Canada will receive an honorary degree from the university during the ceremony. So will Central Intelligence Agency Director and retired U.S. Army General David Petraeus, civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), mathematician Peter Lax and actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith.

The school chose actor Denzel Washington as last year’s speaker.