Anthony Fauci Is The 2022 Class Day Speaker At Princeton Uni.

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton University’s Class of 2022 has selected Dr. Anthony Fauci as this year’s Class Day Speaker, the University said Friday.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will speak to students in an in-person ceremony to be held on May 23. This will be the University’s first in-person Class Day in two years.

Fauci will also be inducted as an honorary class member during the celebration.

“This year’s speaker is undoubtedly among the small handful of leaders who have had the largest global impact over the past few years,” Class Day co-chairs Julia Chaffers, Sarah Lee and Christian Potter said in a video message to fellow seniors. “Few people better represent Princeton’s unofficial motto, ‘In the nation’s service and the service of humanity.’”

Class Day is organized by members of the senior class and takes place a day before commencement.

Last year’s commencement speaker was Trevor Noah, comedian and host of "The Daily Show." Read More: Trevor Noah Is 2021 Class Day Speaker At Princeton University

Students credited Fauci for his work in helping drive down COVID-19 numbers across the country, and making the University’s in-person Class Day possible.

“While too much of our college experience was altered due to the pandemic, his contributions to public health policy have allowed us to now be approaching an in-person graduation and Class Day after a much more normal senior year,” the Class Day organizers said.

Santiago Guiran, president of the Class of 2022, said it is an honor to have Fauci address students. “Listening to a leader who has been at the forefront of combatting the pandemic will be a cathartic moment for us given all we have been through,” Guiran said.

A recipient of a number of prestigious awards including the medal of freedom, Fauci was appointed director of the NIAID in 1984 and has advised seven presidents on domestic and global health issues.

“Dr. Fauci has contributed to public health research for over 50 years and has led national responses to numerous health crises including the coronavirus pandemic,” Chaffers said. “We are excited to learn from Dr. Fauci about what it means to dedicate our lives to service, whether through science, public policy or other fields.”

Previous Class Day speakers include former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carrell, Jerry Seinfeld and Brooke Shields.

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