Apple's Tim Cook Named Stanford Commencement Speaker

PALO ALTO, CA -- From a collaboration matching the world's most valuable company with one of the most prestigious universities, Apple's chief Tim Cook will be the 2019 Stanford commencement speaker on June 16, the university's news service announced Friday.

“Tim Cook has spoken forcefully of the challenges and responsibilities confronting corporations and our society today,” Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne said. “In tackling these, he has led with vision and values – qualities that reflect the culture of our Stanford community, and that are top of mind for our students and our country. Tim was a natural choice to challenge and encourage our graduates, as they leave our campus and find their own paths in the world.”

Cook joined Apple in 1998. The tech giant’s board of directors named him CEO in August 2011. He has used his position as one of the world’s most prominent executives to speak up on privacy and to empower users with data about their screen time and address other implications of emerging technology, the news service added.

“It’s an honor to have been invited by Stanford’s students and faculty, and I look forward to deepening the remarkable relationship that Stanford and Apple have built together over many years,” Cook said. “We share so much more than geography. The passion, interests and creativity our institutions have in common have helped to revolutionize technology and reshape the world, and I can’t wait to join graduates, as well as their family and friends, in celebrating the even brighter possibilities of the future.”

Last year, Cook was again named to Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders list. He has also been named Person of the Year by the Financial Times and honored with the Newseum’s Free Speech Award for using his position to take a public stand on important social issues. In April 2018, observing the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference presented Cook with its Keeper of the Dream Award for Human Rights.

Stanford’s 128th Commencement ceremony is part of a weekend-long celebration for graduates, their families and friends and members of the Stanford community. The ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in Stanford Stadium.

More information is available on the Commencement Weekend website.