Winter Commencement at Framingham State University Today

Framingham State University History Professor Nicholas Racheotes and Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Richard Freeland will serve as commencement speakers for the 2013 Winter Commencement ceremonies Saturday, Feb. 2 at the University.

“Commissioner Freeland and Dr. Racheotes are both distinguished scholars who have achieved high levels of success in their chosen fields,” Framingham State President Timothy J. Flanagan said. “We are pleased and honored to have them speak during winter commencement. I’m confident our graduates will find their personal stories inspiring.”

Racheotes, who will serve as the undergraduate commencement speaker, teaches European intellectual history and Russian and Eastern European history. He has published numerous scholarly reviews and articles. He has co-authored two books, The Massachusetts Constitution: A Citizen's Guide, (1987) with George Jarnis, and Masters of War Makers of Peace, (1985) with Joseph Harrington. He has also co-edited Life Lines: Perspectives on Russian and European Culture, Society, and Politics, (2001) with Hugh Guilderson. Dr. Racheotes is a research associate at the Davis Center for Eurasian Studies at Harvard University.

Richard Freeland, who will serve as the graduate commencement speaker, was
appointed Commissioner of Higher Education by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2009. Working with the Board of Higher Education, he is responsible for providing overall direction to public higher education in Massachusetts and helping shape state-level policies that maximize the benefits of higher education to the Commonwealth and its citizens. Previously, Freeland was President of Northeastern University for 10 years, from Aug. 1996 to Aug. 2006. Under his leadership, Northeastern pursued excellence as a national research university that is student-centered, practice-oriented and urban.

Both ceremonies will be held today in the Dwight Performing Arts Center on campus.