Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of Greece, will deliver Boston College’s 2022 commencement address on May 23, according to a University release.
The University release underscored Mitsotakis’ tenure in Greek parliament, starting with his election in 2004.
“He fought to highlight the issue of climate change and advocated for environmentally sustainable growth,” the release reads. “Later, as minister of Administrative Reform and e-Government, he led comprehensive national reforms by implementing a functional reorganization of institutions, structures, and processes.”
After serving in parliament, Mitsotakis became prime minister when the New Democracy party won a majority in the 2019 Greek national elections.
“Mitsotakis campaigned on a platform of jobs, strong growth, and lower taxes to revive Greece, which had endured the loss of one-fourth of its GDP and the near collapse of its banks following the 2008 global recession,” the release said.
University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., will award Mitsotakis with honorary degrees at the ceremony. Leahy will also award Yolanda Lyle, Rev. Nicholas A. Sannella, Patrick T. Stokes, and Arivee Vargas Rozier-Byrd with honorary degrees at the commencement ceremony.
Lyle, BC ’94 and BC Law ’01, is the vice president of executive operations, chief of staff to the CEO, and the site lead of the New York headquarters of Pfizer, Inc. Lyle is a member of the Boston College Wall Street Council, where she serves on the executive committee, according to the release.
Sannella, BC ’67, worked as a vascular surgeon before being ordained and becoming a priest in 2003, the release said. Sannella is also a trustee associate on BC’s Board of Trustees, and he won BC’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2004.
Stokes, BC ’64, served as the president, CEO, and chair of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. He has also served as a member of BC’s Board of Trustees for the past 24 years and provided the lead donation to establish Stokes Hall, according to the release.
Vargas Rozier-Byrd, BC ’05 and BC Law ’08, is a senior director of employee relations at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and a certified life and high-performance coach for women professionals, the release said. She currently serves on the University’s Board of Regents, AHANA Alumni Advisory Council, Council for Women of Boston College, and the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
