Actor, Businessman and National Teacher Award Recipient Among CSUF Commencement Speakers This Weekend

Stepping up to the podium for Cal State Fullerton’s school-based commencement ceremonies May 29-30 will be guest speakers ranging from the 2002 National Teacher of the Year to the founder and CEO of a global organization.

School-based exercises will follow the main universitywide ceremonies that begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday before more than 40,000 expected to gather on the sports fields north of Titan Gym during the weekend festivities.

Keynote speakers for the all-campus celebration are Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido (Class of 1980) at the May 29 ceremony and award-winning mystery novelist Elizabeth George (Class of 1979) on May 30. George also will be receiving an honorary doctorate in recognition of excellence and extraordinary achievement in significant areas of human endeavor.

Cal State Fullerton alumnus Steven G. Mihaylo (Class of 1969) returns to his alma mater May 29 to speak before graduates, candidates and their families at the College of Business and Economics exercise on the sports fields north of Titan Gym. Mihaylo, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Phoenix-based Inter-Tel, publicly traded provider of communications hardware, software and services, has pledged $3 million to the college, which will name its future building in Mihaylo’s honor.

Michael Villani, an actor and inspirational speaker, will address participants attending the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ sociology and gerontology program exercise May 29 at the west entrance of the Humanities-Social Sciences Building. Villani’s credits include appearing as Merv Griffin in the Milos Forman film “Man on the Moon,” with Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer in “Up Close and Personal,” and with Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman in “Wag the Dog.” Most recently, he appeared in the Jim Carrey film “Bruce Almighty.”

Chauncey Veatch, a retired Army colonel now teaching social studies at Coachella Valley High School in Riverside County, was honored in 2002 as National Teacher of the Year at a special White House ceremony. The educator will speak on how to help students stay engaged in learning, during the School of Education exercise May 30 in Titan Gym.