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NSU Press Release

Norfolk, Va.—Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will deliver the keynote address at Norfolk State University’s commencement ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, December 11 at Joseph G. Echols Hall. The procession will begin at 9:30 a.m. More than 500 students are expected to participate in the commencement exercises.

“We are honored to have Governor McDonnell with us at our fall commencement ceremony,” said Dr. Kim Luckes (LEW-kus), Acting President. “Governor McDonnell’s commitment to higher education and to historically black universities, such as Norfolk State University, is evident and we are extremely pleased to have his participation.”
McDonnell was sworn in as the 71st Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia on January 16, 2010. He received nearly 59 percent of the vote and the most votes of any gubernatorial candidate in Virginia history.

Before his election as governor, McDonnell served as Virginia’s 44th attorney general. Elected in 2005, McDonnell was successful in getting 92 of his 105 legislative proposals passed during his three years in office. Prior to serving as attorney general, McDonnell represented the 84th District in the Virginia House of Delegates for 14 years. In the House of Delegates, he held the positions of Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee.

As governor, he is focused on implementing policies and initiatives that will create more jobs and opportunities for all Virginians and promote economic development, as well as policies and initiatives that will lead to more reform and greater innovation in state government. His proposals include improving affordability and accessibility in Virginia's higher education system; putting half a billion dollars more per year into Virginia's classrooms without a tax increase; placing Virginia in the vanguard of the national charter school expansion effort; making Virginia the "Energy Capital of the East Coast;" strategically reforming the operations of state government; and, making Virginia the best state in America in which to open and grow a small business.

McDonnell graduated from the University of Notre Dame (BBA), Boston University (MSBA) and Regent University (JD and MA). He and his wife, Maureen, have been married for 34 years. They have five children.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications and Marketing at (757) 823-8373.