Apple CEO Tim Cook will deliver the 152nd commencement address at Gallaudet University next month, the university has announced.
- Tim Cook has been confirmed to deliver Gallaudet University’s 152nd commencement address next month.
- Gallaudet is the world’s only university in the world where deaf, deafblind and hard-of-hearing students live and learn bilingually in American Sign Language and English.
- Apple’s efforts in that respect were recently validated as the Apple TV+ film “CODA” took home an Academy Award for Best Picture. The film is about Ruby, the only hearing member of a Deaf family.
Tim Cook to deliver Gallaudet University’s 152nd commencement address
Gallaudet’s president Roberta J. Cordano said in the announcement:
I am beyond proud and honored to share that Tim Cook will be our 2022 commencement speaker. Tim is a remarkable visionary, truly one of the great CEOs of our time who, without question, will leave a lasting imprint for generations to come. As the leader of one of the most admired brands in the world, Tim has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusion, representation and accessibility—values that matter deeply to our Gallaudet community and so many other underrepresented groups.
The Apple TV+ film “CODA,” which won an Academy Award for Best Picture, focuses on a young woman who is the only hearing member of a Deaf family. Cordon says the film has “put Deaf people and sign language on the global stage like never before.”
Thanks so much Molly, I’d be honored! See you there! 🦬 https://t.co/eSmy1uyFu7
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 16, 2022
“Over the past few years, Gallaudet has enjoyed a collaborative partnership with Tim and Apple, one that is firmly rooted in our shared commitment to creating a more inclusive world,“ she continued. “We are thrilled to have Tim share his insights and perspectives with our graduates next month.”
Gallaudet and Apple have an existing partnership on several fronts, including giving each new student an M1 MacBook Pro or iPad Pro.
Apple’s chief executive will deliver the keynote speech alongside student Molly Feanny, who will be the undergraduate student speaker at the commencement. The 152nd undergraduate commencement ceremony is scheduled to take place on Gallaudet’s campus on Friday, May 13, from 2pm to 4pm Eastern Time. This year’s undergraduate commencement ceremony will be the first in-person commencement since 2020, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the university said.
Cook held commencement addresses at various universities before, including Auburn, Ohio, Duke, Tulane, Stanford, MIT, George Washington University and others. Read: 3 simple ways to change the default web browser on your Mac