Bestselling author and professor Dr. Arthur C. Brooks will deliver the keynote address at Seton Hall’s Baccalaureate Commencement ceremony on May 18, Interim Provost Erik Lillquist announced Monday.
Brooks, who teaches at both the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, is described as a “leader in the movement to increase personal happiness and fulfillment,” a press release issued by the Office of the Provost said.
Brooks has authored several books, including “Build the Life You Want,” co-written with Oprah Winfrey. His most recent work, “The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness,” focuses on finding fulfillment in modern life.
Before joining Harvard in 2019, Brooks served as president of the American Enterprise Institute.
He converted to Catholicism after an encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. His faith now plays a central role in his approach to happiness and “human flourishing,” the press release said.
Joining Brooks at commencement will be honorary degree recipient Diane M. Foley, retired family nurse practitioner and the president and founder of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation. She established the foundation after the 2014 killing of her son, conflict journalist James Wright Foley.
Foley has since become an advocate for the protection of journalists and U.S. citizens detained abroad. Her work has included contributing to major publications such as The Washington Post and The New York Times, as well as the creation of the award-winning documentary “Jim: The James Foley Story.”
Foley also participated in the National Counterterrorism Center’s hostage review, which led to changes in U.S. hostage policy.
In the press release, Lillquist described Brooks and Foley as distinguished figures who will bring “wisdom and insight” to graduating students and their families.
Megan Pitt is the head editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at megan.pitt@student.shu.edu.
