Newswise — The president of the National Civic League will address the graduating class at Elizabethtown College's commencement ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m., May 20, in The Dell. Rain location is Thompson Gymnasium.
"Christopher Gates is widely known and highly regarded for his advocacy of civic engagement and community building, and his organization, perhaps best known as the sponsors of the 'All-American City' awards, has led the way in energizing communities around the country," said College President Theodore Long. "A frequent speaker and facilitator for leadership training and community development across the country and internationally, he will encourage our graduates to exemplify the College's motto of 'Educate for Service' by making a difference in their communities."
Prior to being named president in 1995, Gates was vice president of the National Civic League for eight years. In addition to his national and international speaking engagements, he also provides technical assistance to communities undertaking strategic planning or visioning projects.
Gates is active in his community of Denver, Colo., where he serves as the founding chairman of the Colorado Institute for Leadership Training and a member of the board of directors of the Latino Research & Policy Council. He also serves on a variety of other boards, including the National Commission on Civic Renewal, the Council for the Advancement of Citizenship and the California Center for Civic Renewal.
Gates is also co-chair of the Civic Practices Network, co-chair of the Alumni Council of the Kennedy School of Government's Career Services Office, and co-chair of the Saguaro Seminar, a Harvard University project studying "social capital."
Gates earned a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he studied the interaction between the public and private sectors, and an honors degree in economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was also a visiting scholar at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, where he studied political economics.
At Elizabethtown College -- central Pennsylvania's premier small, comprehensive college -- 1800 men and women enjoy personal attention, breadth of curriculum, experiential learning and a commitment to serving others. Elizabethtown has been ranked for 12 consecutive years by "U.S. News and World Report" as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the North.
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