World-renowned artist and Ohio University alumna Phoebe Beasley will deliver the undergraduate commencement address June 11.
Beasley, a 1965 OU graduate, is an artist who specializes in oil paintings, prints and collage. Her paintings often focus on the civil rights era.
We believed that Beasley was the best candidate based on her status as an alumna of OU and her status as a renowned artist
said Senior Class Council President Nadine Wise.
Beasley is the only artist to twice receive the Presidential Seal on her artworks, according to an OU press release. She also has received the Medal of Merit -a medal of distinction in a career field -from OU and the Black Women of Achievement Award from the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. In addition, she was the first black woman to become president of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
Senior Class Council members met with President Roderick McDavis to discuss the commencement speaker based on criteria and what they were looking for, Wise said. The council gave McDavis a list of about 10 different candidates, and McDavis selected Beasley.
The president is really excited that she agreed to speak and I think that the Class of 2005 will be excited to have her share her experiences Wise said.
Senior Class Council Vice President David Boone said the council agreed diversity has been a big issue at OU, but nothing really has been done about it. The fact that Beasley is a black woman and is very accomplished, played a significant part in why she was chosen, he said.
Wise said that Beasley will be the first female speaker in about seven years. That was not the only aspect that was considered, but it made a difference with the decision.
Senior Matt Gehring, an art major, said he is looking forward to the speech. For me
as an artist
it's a very creative idea to choose someone from OU that has become a successful and respectable artist
he said. I will be really interested to hear her speak.
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