Photo by jbhaber

We already told you that Project Runway‘s Tim Gunn would be delivering the commencement address at the Corcoran College of Art + Design, but what about all the other traditional colleges and universities within the District? It’s time once again for our annual Commencement Speaker Scouting Reports, now with 80 percent more post-college recession-related job market panic than last year!

Howard University gets the party started with its Saturday, May 9 commencement ceremonies. After following up 2007’s extraordinary Oprah get with snoozer Kenneth I. Chenault, CEO of American Express, this year the prestigious historically black university returns to form with the accomplished and briefly controversial Gwen Ifill of PBS’s The NewsHour.

Strengths: Ifill’s a respected newswoman, bestselling author and engaging public speaker.

Weaknesses: We wouldn’t be totally surprised if she seized the opportunity to plug her book.

The University of the District of Columbia also holds its commencement on Saturday, May 9 (at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center). UDC got a marquee speaker this year in Vernon Jordan, the civil rights leader, former Clinton adviser and senior counsel at Akin Gump.

Strengths: The man’s inarguably a giant and will no doubt have plenty of advice to offer this year’s graduates.

Weaknesses: Be wary of any offers he makes to help you land a job and/or internship.

American University has split up its commencement ceremonies by school this year, without offering the big, all-encompassing graduation event that usually features the main commencement speaker. So over the course of May 8-10, they have: Susan Zirinsky, executive producer of the CBS news magazine 48 Hours, for the School of Communication; historian Lonnie Bunch for the College of Arts and Sciences; John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project for the School of International Service; and Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) for the School of Public Affairs.

Strengths: It’s nice that each school has a speaker with a wealth of experience tailored to the interests of the graduates.

Weaknesses: Lack of big, main graduation ceremony appears to have led to a lack of big name speakers.

Gallaudet University holds its 140th Commencement on Friday, May 15. The Honorable Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen is set to deliver this year’s address.

Strengths: She’s a Gallaudet alumna, and was the first deaf person to be elected to the South African Parliament.

Weaknesses: Percentage of graduates eligible to run for office in South Africa seems likely to be small.

Catholic University has invited Raymond W. Kelly, police commissioner of New York City, to address graduates at the school’s 120th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Strengths: Kelly is a veteran lawman with 30+ years worth of stories to share from his time leading the NYPD. He’s also a regular on the commencement address circuit, having previously appeared at New York University, St. John’s University, and the State University of New York.

Weaknesses: Nothing puts a damper on graduation partying like having additional police presence on campus.

Stay tuned for the next edition of the scouting report, when we’ll bring you the speakers headed to George Mason, George Washington, Georgetown, University of Maryland, Trinity and Southeastern.