A former U.S. Congressman from western Massachusetts will be honored at the University of Massachusetts Amherstcommencement ceremony in May.
John Olver represented Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 until he retired in January 2013. Prior to his time in Washington, the Democrat served as a state representative and senator for Hampshire and Franklin counties starting in 1969. A chemistry professor at UMass Amherst before pursing politics, Olver will receive an honorary doctoral degree at the college’s undergraduate commencement ceremony May 9th.
New York Times editor and columnist Gail Collins will also be honored.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will deliver the keynote address.