Richard Wagoner, chairman and chief executive officer of General Motors Corporation, will deliver the 2007 commencement address Sunday.
"It's a real honor to be asked to speak at such an important occasion for Duke University, this year's graduates, and their families and friends," Wagoner told The Chronicle in an e-mail in March.
Wagoner, Trinity '75, is co-chair of the Financial Aid Initiative and a member of the Board of Trustees, serving on the board's executive, trusteeship and student affairs committees. He is also on the Fuqua School of Business Board of Visitors.
"I'm very grateful that Rick Wagoner has agreed to speak at our commencement," President Richard Brodhead said in a statement. "He loves this university and has served it in a thousand ways."
Brodhead said Wagoner will help graduates look into their futures as they leave the University.
"Like all our graduates, when he left Duke, Rick went off to see what he could make of the opportunities of his time," Brodhead said. "In the process, he became CEO in one of America's biggest and most challenging business and a leader whose strength and integrity are known throughout the world."
Wagoner was born in Wilmington, Del. but raised in Richmond, Va. He currently lives in Detroit, Mich.
At 47, he became GM's youngest chief executive officer in history in 2000 and was elected chairman in 2003.
He joined GM as an analyst in the treasurer's office in New York in 1977 after receiving a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University.
After serving in leadership positions in Brazil, Canada and Switzerland, Wagoner was promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer in 1992. Between 1993 and 1994 he was also responsible for worldwide purchasing for GM.
Wagoner was named executive vice president of GM and president of North American Operations in 1994 and was elected president and chief operating officer in 1998.
"He is someone who is recognized around the world as one of the most important people in business but beyond that he is a person with great international understanding and also someone with strong Duke ties," John Burness, senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, told The Chronicle in March.
Wagoner met his wife, Kathy Wagoner, Trinity '77, at Duke and two of the couple's three sons attended Duke. Trip graduated from the University in 2006 and Scott is a current junior. Wagoner's father, sister and brother-in-law are also Duke graduates.
Wagoner is a frequent visitor to the University's campus.
"He'll give a great speech," said senior Andrew Longenecker, a member of the commencement committee. "I feel like he will impart a lot of knowledge and energy to the graduates."
Katherine MacIlwaine contributed to this story.
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