Ohio State has named its commencement speaker.
Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger will serve as the guest speaker for Ohio State's spring commencement ceremony, the school announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Gelsinger has worked in technology for more than four decades and was named the CEO of the Intel Corporation last year, decades after first joining the company when he was just 18 years old. Before rejoining Intel in 2021, Gelsinger was CEO of VMware, a company that specializes in cloud infrastructure, enterprise mobility and cyber security. There, he was named the best CEO in America by a Glassdoor survey in 2019.
“Pat Gelsinger’s groundbreaking work has, quite literally, changed the way we live. Over the past four decades, he has played a key role in ushering in technological advancements – from microprocessors to WiFi – that are the hallmarks of the modern digital age. And he isn’t close to done yet,” Ohio State President Kristina Johnson said. “His determination and fortitude, coupled with a magnanimous philanthropic spirit, have changed countless lives for the better. I look forward to the words of wisdom Mr. Gelsinger – and all our honorary degree recipients – will share with our graduates on this monumental day.”
Intel has connections to Ohio State and the state of Ohio. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to invest more than $20 billion in the construction of two new chip factories in Ohio, marking the largest single private sector investment in state history. Intel also announced an additional $100 million toward partnerships with educational institutions like Ohio State.
Gelsinger's address will be part of Ohio State's 2022 spring commencement ceremony where Ohio State expects to issue more than 12,000 degrees and certificates to graduates in Ohio Stadium on May 8.
