John Affleck-Graves to be Mendoza graduate commencement speaker

John Affleck-Graves, executive vice president of the University of Notre Dame, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Mendoza College of Business 2019  Graduate Commencement and Diploma Ceremony. The event takes place at 10 a.m. on May 18 (Saturday) in the Joyce Center Purcell Pavilion. The programs included in the ceremony are the Notre Dame MBA, Executive MBA, Executive MBA-Chicago, Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Science in Management, Master of Science in Finance-Chicago, Master of Science in Business Analytics-Chicago and the Master of Nonprofit Administration. Notre Dame’s executive vice president since 2004, Affleck-Graves has provided the steadfast leadership of the University’s fiscal operation necessary for its continued growth as one of the nation’s leading research institutions. As the University’s chief financial officer, he oversees the operating budget, endowment, finance, information technology, human resources, campus safety, event management, construction, building services, landscaping, food services and auxiliary operations. During his tenure, Notre Dame’s annual operating budget has grown to $1.5 billion from $650 million and the endowment has increased to $13.1 billion from $3.5 billion. Thirty-six new buildings have been constructed, totaling 3.3 million square feet. A professor of finance, he specializes in the study of initial public offerings, valuation and asset pricing models and shareholder value added methodology. He has received 13 teaching awards at Notre Dame. A native of South Africa and a naturalized U.S. citizen, he will retire as executive vice president June 30 and return to teaching. Affleck-Graves will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at Notre Dame’s 174th University Commencement Ceremony on May 19. Mendoza’s undergraduate diploma ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. May 19 in the Joyce Center North Dome. For more information about 2019 commencement events, visit commencement.nd.edu.