The following colleges and universities have announced their commencement speakers for spring 2012:
- Bard College at Simon's Rock: [1] Philip Levine, the U.S. poet laureate.
- Brandeis University: [2] Deborah Bial, founder of the Posse Foundation.
- Colorado College: [3] Abigail Washburn, the musician.
- Elmhurst College: [4] Rita Athas, the president of World Business Chicago.
- Ithaca College: [5] Amy Kule, executive producer of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Mills College: [6] Luma Mufleh, an advocate on behalf of refugee children.
- Misericordia University: [7] Kerry Robinson, executive director of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management.
- Roanoke College: [8] Phil Conserva, co-producer of the TV series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
- Thomas University: [9] Gloria Nemerowicz, founder and president of the Yes We Must Coalition: College Success for All.
- University of La Verne: [10] Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
- University of Rochester: [11] Ruth Simmons, president of Brown University.
- Washington University in St. Louis: [12] Mike Peters, the cartoonist.