Michelle Obama will speak at Spelman 2011 Commencement

First Lady Michelle Obama will be the guest speaker at Spelman College's Commencement in Atlanta, Ga. Her address will be held May 15, 2011.

According to Spelman's website, "Only graduates are guaranteed tickets for Commencement, and can request additional tickets. A limited amount of tickets are reserved for registered alumnae attending Reunion. Unfortunately, the College is not able to accommodate requests outside of the intended scope of this event."

The White House website notes that Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama was born on the South Side of Chicago and is a product of Chicago public schools. She went on to study sociology and African-American studies at Princeton University and later graduated from Harvard Law School in 1988. She joined the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin where she met Barack Obama.

Mrs. Obama served as assistant commissioner of planning and development in Chicago's City Hall and was the founding executive director of the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program that prepares youth for public service. She later became Associate Dean of Student Services and Vice President of Community and External Affairs for the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Now as First Lady, Mrs. Obama champions the Let’s Move! Campaign against childhood obesity. She continues working on issues close to her heart — supporting military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national service, promoting the arts and arts education, and fostering healthy eating and healthy living for children and families across the country.

Michelle and Barack Obama have two daughters: Malia, 12, and Sasha, 9.

Spelman College was founded in 1881 by Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles who, after visiting the South, "returned to Boston...determined to start a school ...for black females." (Photo from Spelman: a centennial celebration)

For more information about upcoming commencement festivities at Spelman, contact Terri Simmons at (404) 681-3643.

©2011 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.