Gov. is Ole Miss Commencement Speaker

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — The University of Mississippi says Gov. Phil Bryant will be the main speaker at its 161st commencement on May 10.

He will speak to graduating students, their families and other guests at 9 a.m. This year’s graduating class includes about 2,650 spring candidates for undergraduate and graduate degrees and about 1,000 August 2013 graduates.

Chancellor Dan Jones says Bryant has given the state valuable leadership for nearly 25 years in both the legislative and executive branches.

Bryant is Mississippi’s 64th governor. Before he was sworn in Jan. 10, 2012, he spent four years as lieutenant governor. He also served as state auditor and served five years in the Mississippi House.

The ceremony will be in the Grove unless there’s rain. Bad weather would send it indoors, into Tad Smith Coliseum.