State and National Dignitaries Help Commemorate
Randolph-Macon College Commencement 2007
Ashland, VA - Approximately 225 seniors are expected to graduate when Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, holds its 2007 commencement program, during which Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Jr. will deliver the commencement address, and former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and the current chairman of Cerberus Capital Management, John Snow, will be awarded an honorary degree.
R-MC’s Commencement begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at the Frank E. Brown Fountain Plaza on Henry Street. (In the event of rain, commencement will be held in the Randolph-Macon Brock Recreation Center, located at 400 N. Center Street, at 10 a.m.)
Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Will Deliver Commencement Address
Known for his engaging speeches, R-MC graduate and the Secretary of Natural Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia, L. Preston Bryant Jr., will deliver this year’s commencement address.
Secretary Bryant was appointed to his post by Governor Timothy M. Kaine and was sworn into office on Jan. 15, 2006. He is the governor’s principal environmental advisor and oversees more than 2,200 employees and a budget of nearly $565 million. Secretary Bryant’s responsibilities include oversight of all state programs regulating air, water, land conservation, state parks, historic preservation, wildlife management and marine resources.
Prior to joining Governor Kaine’s cabinet, Secretary Bryant served two years on Lynchburg City Council and 10 years in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he represented the City of Lynchburg and Amherst County. During his decade of service in the General Assembly, then-Delegate Bryant sponsored landmark legislation to help preserve more than one million acres of nontidal wetlands, streamline the state’s stormwater management programs, and create a market-based nutrient credit trading program to advance upgrades to more than a hundred wastewater treatment facilities that discharge into Virginia waters. He has been honored by many environmental groups for his work, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Before joining Governor Kaine’s cabinet, Secretary Bryant was a partner at Hurt & Proffitt Inc., a Virginia-based engineering, surveying and planning firm that specializes in the design of major residential, commercial and industrial developments as well as transportation facilities.
Secretary Bryant was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He earned his B.A. in English in 1986 from Randolph-Macon College, a master’s degree in the humanities in 1988 from the University of Richmond, and an M.A. in modern British literature in 1990 from Royal Holloway College, University of London. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Richmond, Virginia.
Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury John Snow to be Awarded Honorary Degree
Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and the current chairman of Cerberus Capital Management, John William Snow will be awarded an honorary degree during R-MC’s commencement ceremony.
John William Snow, the 73rd U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, currently is chairman of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., one of the world's leading private investment firms. Dr. Snow accepted this position in October 2006 and under his leadership, Cerberus most recently purchased the Chrysler organization for $7.4 billion.
In 2003, Dr. Snow was nominated by President George W. Bush to become the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. He was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate and sworn into office in February 2003, and served in this role until June 2006. As Secretary of the Treasury, Dr. Snow worked closely with President Bush to strengthen economic growth and create jobs.
Prior to becoming Secretary of the Treasury, Dr. Snow was chairman and chief executive officer of CSX Corporation, the global transportation company. During his 20 years at CSX, Dr. Snow led the company through a period of change by refocusing on CSX’s core railroad business and dramatically improving the company’s financial performance.
His previous public service includes serving at the Department of Transportation as administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, deputy undersecretary, assistant secretary for governmental affairs, and deputy assistant secretary for policy, plans and international affairs.
An advocate for the value of higher education, Dr. Snow served on Randolph-Macon’s Board of Trustees from 1985 to 1990. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Toledo, and his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. He later earned his doctoral degree in economics from the University of Virginia, and also his law degree from the George Washington University.
Dr. Snow currently lives in Richmond with his wife Carolyn. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Media interested in covering R-MC’s Commencement should contact or Anne Marie Lauranzon at 752-7317 or alauranz@rmc.edu. Media parking will be available at the R-MC Welcome Center, located at the corner of Henry and England streets.