Press Release

Commencement Speakers Shape Atlanta’s Future

ATLANTA – Incoming Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent, Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Beverly L. Hall and philanthropist Harald R. Hansen help shape Atlanta’s business, education and philanthropic future. These three Atlanta leaders will be speaking at Oglethorpe University’s commencement ceremony on May 10 from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. on the academic quadrangle.

Kent, Hall and Hansen will each also receive an honorary doctorate from Atlanta’s premier liberal arts university. Previous recipients at Oglethorpe commencements have included Franklin D. Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Ivan E. Allen, Sr., T. Woodrow Wilson and more recently Shirley Franklin, Andrew Young, Monica Pearson, Billy Payne, Yoel Levi, Zell Miller, S. Truett Cathy, Max Cleland, Tom Cousins and Jack Guynn.

Joining The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta 30 years ago and rising to the role of CEO in July, Muhtar Kent has had leadership responsibilities for the company’s operations and marketing across Asia, the Middle East and Central Europe. Kent oversaw recent acquisitions of Glaceau and Fuze Beverage to expand the beverage giant’s offerings. He earned a Bachelor of Science in economics at Hull University and a Master of Science in administrative sciences at London City University. Kent also serves as a Foreign Policy Association Fellow and a board member of the Special Olympics and Woodruff Arts Center. He will be honored by Oglethorpe University with a Doctor of Laws.

Promising transformation to Atlanta’s Public Schools, in less than 10 years Dr. Beverly L. Hall has increased student test scores and renovated sagging facilities while forging new relationships and garnering support from the local business community, civic and non-profit organizations and government leaders. Hall was honored as Superintendent of the Year by the Council of the Great City Schools and by the National Association of Black School Educators. Georgia Trend has named her twice to its “100 Most Influential Georgians” and the Atlanta Business League inducted her into its Women’s Hall of Fame. Hall also serves on the boards of the U.S. Department of Education’s Urban Education Research Task Force, Communities in Schools of Atlanta, Junior Achievement of Atlanta and Grady Memorial Hospital. She chairs Harvard University’s Urban Superintendents Program Advisory Board and is a member of the Teaching Commission. Hall earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brooklyn College and a Doctor of Education from Fordham University. She will be honored by Oglethorpe University with a Doctor of Humane Letters.

Retiring recently as chairman, president and CEO of First Union Corporation of Georgia, Harald R. Hansen has dedicated countless hours of service to a wide variety of educational and non-profit boards during his career, including 14 years on the Oglethorpe University Board of Trustees. At First Union he climbed through the management ranks after serving our nation in the Marine Corps, from which he retired after 25 years as Colonel. Hansen garnered many accolades during his career, including Minority Business Advocate of the Year, the American Jewish Committee’s Institute of Human Relations Award and Distinguished Service Awards from the Empire Real Estate Board and the Atlanta Business League. He continued his involvement with the Paralympics, Midtown Alliance and Atlanta Regional Commission. Hansen currently serves on the Board of Directors of Crystal River Capital, Hyperion Strategic Bond Fund and Georgia Commerce Bancshares. He earned his political science degree from Duke University. He will be honored by Oglethorpe University with a Doctor of Laws.