U.S. Rep. Barney Frank advised graduates to “find a way to make a living that plays to your strengths and not your weaknesses” as he spoke at Suffolk University’s College of Arts and Sciences graduate student commencement on Saturday, May 19, at the Westin Copley Place Hotel.

Frank had planned to be an academic but changed his mind after volunteering in campaigns. “I realized that I had a particular personal trait that dictated the answer,” he said.

Suffolk University awarded Frank an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree at Saturday’s Commencement ceremonies.

Frank, D-Newton, represents the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts and is the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee. He helped pass the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a law that modified the nation's financial regulatory system in the wake of the financial crisis.

Frank began his career in the Massachusetts Legislature, where he served for eight years before winning a seat in the U.S. Congress in 1980. He is widely recognized for his work on national issues, yet Frank also has been attentive to his constituents, making gains for New Bedford fishermen, fighting to bring commuter rail to the Southcoast region, providing affordable rental housing, and supporting many local organizations and businesses.

He holds an A.B. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Jessica Greenberg gave the student commencement speech.

Sawyer Business School Graduate Commencement

Entrepreneur Jeffery Taylor, founder of Monster.com, delivered the morning address at the Sawyer Business School graduate student commencement on Saturday morning, also at the Westin Copley Place Hotel. He received an honorary Doctor of Commerce degree.

Law School, Undergraduate Commencement Exercises

Alan D. Solomont, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, will speak to undergraduates, and the Hon. Fernande R.V. Duffly, who serves on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, will speak to Law School graduates as more than 1,800 students receive degrees at Suffolk University commencement exercises on May 20.

Duffly will speak at the Law School ceremonies, which will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Bank of America Pavilion at 290 Northern Ave. on Boston’s waterfront.

Solomont will speak at the undergraduate commencement, which will begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, also at the Bank of America Pavilion.

Honorary Degrees

In addition to honoring Taylor and Frank, the Sawyer Business School and College of Arts and Sciences will award the following honorary degrees:

• Ambassador to Spain and Andorra Alan D. Solomont, honorary Doctor of Public Administration
• Dr. Augustus A. White III, orthopedic surgeon, professor of orthopedic surgery and the Ellen and Melvin Gordon Professor of Medical Education, at Harvard Medical School, honorary Doctor of Science

The Law School will award the following honorary degrees:

• The Hon. Fernande R.V. Duffly, associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial court, honorary Doctor of Laws
• Sarah M. Buel, clinical professor and director of the Diane Halle Center for Family Justice at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, honorary Doctor of Laws

Statistics

• College of Arts and Sciences bachelor’s degree candidates: 789
• College master’s degree and doctoral candidates: 280
• Sawyer Business School bachelor’s degree candidates: 546
• Business School master’s degree candidates: 399
• Law School to confer 475 juris doctor, 35 master of laws degrees