Alec Baldwin to speak at 2010 commencement

Jack Donaghy will make an appearance at the class of 2010's commencement.

The university announced today that Alec Baldwin will speak at the commencement on May 12.

Baldwin, the "30 Rock" star and Tisch alumnus, will receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree at Yankee Stadium.

"We expect that the honorees will be received by the graduates and guests at commencement not merely with the respect and courtesy they deserve for their accomplishments, but with real enthusiasm," NYU spokesman John Beckman said.

CAS senior Allison Bosworth said she is excited to hear Baldwin speak.

"He's someone that everybody loves," she said. "It's the best news I've heard in four years. He's good in every performance and he has a lot of life experience."

But CAS senior Dante Wadley is uncertain of Baldwin's qualifications.

"I question what the point of him speaking is," Wadley said. "I would rather have someone who would have something inspirational to say. He's not someone who I would have chosen."

Baldwin will share the stage with Steve Martin this Sunday as a host for the 82nd-annual Academy Awards on Sunday.

"The choice of Mr. Baldwin as the host of this year's Academy Awards and his selection as the recipient of an honorary degree from NYU are not related, other than that both are recognitions of his talent as an actor," Beckman said.

Other honored guests will include Robert Max Berdahl, the president of the Association of American Universities; Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox; Bill Drayton, CEO of Ashoka Global Headquarters; Wayne Shorter, award-winning jazz saxophonist and composer; and William Julius Wilson, a renowned and influential sociologist.

According to Beckman, honorees are selected many months in advance with input from University Senate and the trustees, among others.

"Because of the range of NYU's academic enterprise, the annual honorees are typically from diverse fields," Beckman said.

Ashley Mason is university editor.