Wellesley College

Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama, will address Wellesley College’s class of 2013 at its 135th commencement exercises on May 31.

Jarrett is the chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls and was named the “Other Power in the West Wing” by The New York Times.

“My parents raised me to believe that if I worked hard and I focused on my goals, there were no limits to what I could accomplish,” said Jarret, at a February 2012 event. “My responsibility as the chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls is to help ensure that all women and girls have that same opportunity.”

The decision to honor Valerie Jarrett as commencement speaker was made by the students and announced at Wellesley’s Senior Soiree on April 10, in keeping with the college’s tradition.