GOV. WARNER TO ADDRESS GRADUATES AT ODU'S 101ST COMMENCEMENT DEC. 19

Gov. Mark R. Warner will address more than 2000 graduates at Old Dominion University's 101st Commencement Sunday, Dec. 19, at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

The ceremony, which begins at 1:30 p.m., will recognize graduates from the university's six academic colleges: Arts and Letters, Business and Public Administration, Education, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences and Sciences.

The 69th governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Warner was inaugurated in January 2002. During his term, he has launched comprehensive state government reforms and implemented innovative, low-cost programs to increase student achievement and accountability in public schools through his Education for a Lifetime initiative.

Warner assembled a bipartisan coalition to win approval from the 2004 Virginia General Assembly for one of the nation's most ambitious tax reform proposals, allowing Virginia to make historic investments in public education, higher education, law enforcement and health care, while preserving the state's reputation for fiscal integrity.

In the fall of 2002, Governor Warner led a bipartisan, statewide campaign to secure more than $1 billion in bonds for investments in higher education, cultural facilities, and state parks and recreation areas.

The Governor currently serves as chairman of the National Governors' Association and co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission. He recently concluded service as chairman of the Southern Governors Association and the Education Commission of the States, a national nonpartisan policy organization.

Prior to taking office, Warner was a founding partner of Columbia Capital Corp. and helped create more than 70 telecommunications and information technology companies.

He earned a bachelor's degree from George Washington University in 1977 and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1980.