Graduation speaker named

Bloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis has spoken at hundreds of receptions, luncheons and awards ceremonies.\nBut his last as Bloomington chancellor will be May 5, when he will deliver the Bloomington campus' commencement speech. He will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, one of 11 being awarded at the University's graduation ceremonies.\nAfter serving IU for more than 30 years, Gros Louis is retiring July 1 and will be replaced by current Ohio University provost Sharon Brehm.\nA committee, headed by Jerry Tardy, University director of alumni affairs, chose Gros Louis to be this year's speaker.\nSenior Meredith Suffron, who is graduating May 5, said the choice of Gros Louis is special to her. As the IU Student Association president, Suffron often works directly with the chancellor.\n"I'm really excited that he is our commencement speaker because it marks a big change in the University," Suffron said. "He's sending us all off … that means a lot to me."\nSuffron said Gros Louis is a perfect choice for commencement speaker because of his extraordinary knowledge of IU and because of his personality. She mentioned his "anecdotes about Chancellor Wells and places around campus" as some of her favorite things about him.\n"He knows more about this University than anyone I've ever met," she said. "What I'll miss most, I think, is his honesty and humor, and usually they go hand in hand. He'll give you his honest opinion, and it usually somehow has an entertaining twist."\nUniversity spokeswoman Susan Dillman said the choice of Gros Louis was fitting because this is his last year as Bloomington chancellor.\n"Ken has been part of graduations for many, many years," Dillman said. "Ken Gros Louis is such a fixture and so well loved on the Indiana University-Bloomington campus that the choice was easy."\nAssociate Vice Chancellor Raymond Smith, who has been at IU for 10 years, said he admires Gros Louis and his managerial style.\n"It was during my interview with him that I decided to come to Indiana University," said Smith, also an assistant professor of education. "Unlike a lot of administrators, he knew the rhythms of faculty life. He understood what motivated faculty."\nSmith stressed Gros Louis' unwavering commitment to the University, evident in his work ethic.\n"He's in the University rather then merely on it," Smith said. "He's one of those rare administrators who works well with other administrators, faculty and students.\n"He has done a lot of things for faculty members and students and employee members of his that most people will never know about"