Out of the nine honorary degree recipients that will be awarded diplomas alongside this year's senior class, the College chose Jeffrey Immelt '78 to deliver the main address at the 2004 commencement exercises on the Green.
Immelt, 48, is chairman and CEO of General Electric Co. He graduated from Dartmouth with a B.A. in applied mathematics, and later received an M.B.A. from Harvard University. Immelt will be awarded a Doctor of Laws at the June 13 ceremony.
Immelt joined GE, whose origins trace back to Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb, in 1982 and has held numerous positions in the company's diverse divisions. After the announcement of the retirement of famed CEO Jack Welch, Immelt was selected by the company's Board of Directors to serve as its ninth chairman in 126 years.
In an interview with The Dartmouth, Immelt expressed excitement in returning to Dartmouth.
"It's always a big honor to go back to a place you really love," he said.
Twenty-six years after listening to his own commencement address at Dartmouth, Immelt plans to "talk about what I've learned about -- what [the Seniors and I] have in common."
When asked if he had recalled any tips from the address he heard in 1978, Immelt confessed he had "no idea" who spoke at his graduation.
"It was a hot day, and I was just trying to stay awake," Immelt said, chuckling.
Of all the memories he can recall, Immelt said he would never forget about the friends and values he took away from Dartmouth.
"There's a sense of camaraderie and friendship unique to this place," Immelt said.
In his new capacity of leading GE as one of business America's most visible CEOs, Immelt says he feels a sense of responsibility in the "post 9/11 and Enron world."
"We're solving the world's toughest problems. GE makes a difference in the world, and I take that very seriously." he said.
In just under three years at the helm, Immelt said he plans to stay true to the "core values" of the industry. He said he believes his highest calling is "the combination of the need to be great and good." Immelt said he plans to share with Dartmouth's graduates just how to do that in the real world.
The announcement of Immelt as this year's Commencement speaker was met by disappointment by some graduating seniors, who felt renowned businessmen were not best suited for an inspiring graduating address. Others, however, felt the powerful business leader's remarks would be a worthwhile experience as seniors prepare for the transition from college to the workplace.
Last year, historian David McCullough spoke before the Class of 2003. Other recent commencement speakers include the late Fred Rogers, Madeleine Albright, Shirley Ann Jackson and George Mitchell.
When asked about rumors of his intentions to visit his fraternity, Phi Delta Alpha, to play a few rounds of pong, Immelt said he plans to play without beer.
"I absolutely will [be visiting Phi Delt]. I plan to bring my 17-year-old daughter -- and make her go down to the basement. We'll be playing with Coke, though," Immelt said.
His separate advice for commencement partiers: be warned.
"We'll take on any challenge," Immelt said confidently -- though "I promise not to stay up too late."
Currently places fifth in the Fortune 500 index, GE boasts revenues amounting to over $130 billion annually, with operations in over 100 companies and a workforce of 315,000 employees.
In addition to his work with GE, Immelt serves on two non-profit boards, devoted to advancing women in business and addressing poverty in New York City.
