Wisconsin’s first Congresswoman to speak at commencement

Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the first woman elected to the United States House of Representatives from the state of Wisconsin, will address spring graduates during commencement weekend, Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15.

Wisconsin’s 2nd District (which includes Dane County) first sent Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., to Washington in 1998. She has served continuously since then, her most recent re-election being last year.

During her tenure in Congress, Baldwin has taken special interest in a number of issues surrounding higher education that affect students and their families, as well as faculty and staff. The top issues include federal financial aid, the role in higher education of federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation, campus safety and violence against women, and more. She also is a forceful advocate for civil rights, civil liberties, Wisconsin farmers, the nation’s veterans and others.

However, at the top of her agenda, she says, is universal health care. Baldwin says that she also would like to see prescription drug prices reduced for seniors and a comprehensive prescription drug benefit under Medicare.

Baldwin was elected to Congress after more than six years (1992-1999) in the Wisconsin State Assembly. She began her political career as a Madison City Council member and Dane County supervisor. While a member of the county board, she finished her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She also holds an A.B. in government and mathematics from Smith College in Massachusetts.

Baldwin will speak at both the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14 and on Sunday, May 15. Honorary degree candidate William Campbell (see related story) will be recognized at the ceremony on Friday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. Receiving degrees at the Friday evening ceremony are candidates for: Doctor of philosophy, master of fine arts, doctor of musical arts, doctor of judicial science, doctor of law, master of laws, master of legal institutions, doctor of medicine, master of physical therapy, doctor of veterinary medicine and doctor of pharmacy.

On May 14, 10 a.m.: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the College of Letters and Science (majors A-H, African languages and literature through history of science).

On May 14, 2 p.m.: College of Letters and Science bachelor’s and master’s degrees (majors I-Z, industrial relations through zoology). Multiple majors should attend the ceremony of the major starting with the earliest letter of the alphabet.

On May 15, 10 a.m.: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences; the Schools of Education, Human Ecology, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy; and the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

On May 15, 2 p.m.: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the School of Business and College of Engineering.

About 5,000 students are eligible for degrees from UW–Madison each spring (the Office of the Registrar will have the exact number when the semester ends). All ceremonies are held at the Kohl Center on Dayton St. and are free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in most adjoining university lots and on city streets. Alcohol is strictly prohibited. In addition, guests are asked not to bring strollers, coolers, thermos bottles, balloons, backpacks, large bags or luggage into the Kohl Center.