A man who was once named one of America's Best Leaders will be the commencement speaker for Augustana College. Dr. Eboo Patel will address the college's 159th graduating class in May.
Patel is the founder of Interfaith Youth Center in Chicago, the author of two books, and he served on President Obama's inaugural Advisory Council.
Pastor Richard Priggie, Campus Chaplain, says he couldn't think of a better speaker.
"Eboo's perspective is that he always says that the deeper we go in our own religious traditions, the deeper that we want to go in finding out more and appreciating other religious traditions. So, it's not like we all need to become some homogenous kind of religious perspective."
Patel attended the University of Illinois, and he received a doctorate in sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. And he regularly contributes to The Washington Post, USA Today and CNN.
"The speaker really has an important role in sending the graduates forth with something really to chew on in terms of expressing the difference their education has made and what's now going to be their lives beyond college."
Augustana's commencement on Sunday, May 19th at the TaxSlayer Center and the public is welcome to attend.