Crowley speaking at M.U.M. commencement ceremony

The Maharishi University of Management 2012 commencement is set for 1 p.m. Saturday in the Maharishi Patanjali Dome.

The entire Fairfield community is welcome to attend the ceremony in the men?s dome.

A total of 275 degrees will be given to 268 graduating students: 67 undergraduates for 74 degrees, including seven double-majors, and 201 graduate degrees, for 196 master?s and five doctorates.

M.U.M.?s commencement speaker is Candy Crowley, CNN?s award-winning chief political correspondent and anchor of ?State of the Union with Candy Crowley,? a political hour of newsmaker interviews and analysis of the week?s most important issues.

In her role as chief political correspondent, Crowley covers a broad range of stories, including presidential, congressional and gubernatorial races and major legislative developments on Capitol Hill.

Since arriving at CNN from NBC in 1987, Crowley has won some of broadcasting?s major awards: a Peabody, Emmy, and Gracie Allen Award.

Crowley has been practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique since 2008. Along with Dr. Mehmet Oz, she was a co-host of the 2010 David Lynch Foundation ?Change Begins Within? benefit gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She also hosted the 2011 launch for the foundation?s Operation Warrior Wellness in Washington, D.C.

Crowley was nominated for a Maharishi Award by the Maharishi University of Management Global Student Council in December, but was unable to attend the award ceremony. The award will be presented to her when she is on campus.

?She said she is ?very honored and excited? to be able to speak at our 2012 commencement ceremony,? said M.U.M. executive vice-president Craig Pearson.

Crowley will be attending many of the commencement events, but has to return immediately to Washington, D.C., after graduation in order to anchor her talk show Sunday morning.

Florence Lillian Nickerson is this year?s salutatorian, and the valedictorian is Patrik Nils-Olof Siljestam.

The University of Iowa Faculty Brass Quintet will play the music for the graduation processional.