Governor Bill Haslam will deliver the commencement address at
Lee University’s winter commencement, it was announced today by Lee
president Paul Conn.

The commencement is scheduled for Saturday morning, Dec.
15.  Approximately 275 graduates will receive bachelor’s and
masters’s degrees in the ceremony, to be held at 10:30 a.m. in the
Conn Center.

“We are so honored that Governor Haslam will be here to
challenge our graduates and share this festive occasion with them
and their families,” Conn said.  The December graduation is
one of three at Lee each year.

Haslam was elected to be Tennessee’s governor in 2010.  A
Republican, he won a majority of votes in 90 of 95 counties in the
state.

“We believe Governor Haslam will bring to our graduates a
wonderful example of a successful businessman who left the private
sector to serve the public in government leadership,” Conn
said.  “We are complimented that the Governor would come to
participate in our commencement, of course, but we also believe he
can offer an important challenge to our graduates, whatever their
political affiliation.”

Haslam is a native of Knoxville.  He graduated from Emory
University as a history major in 1980.  Working in his family
business, Pilot Corporation, he eventually became president of that
company.  He was elected mayor of Knoxville in 2003 and served
in that office until running successfully for governor in 2010.

Haslam and his wife Crissy have two daughters and a son. 
They are members of the Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville, where he served as an elder for 22 years.

The 2012 winter commencement will also stream live for the
convenience of friends and family who are unable to attend the
event. Please visit www.leeuniversity.edu/video to
watch the live streaming on Dec. 15.