Most widely-known among the distinguished speakers will be Jane Pauley, a veteran journalist and television news anchor regarded as one of the pioneers for a new generation of female broadcasters. For nearly three decades the Emmy Award-winning Pauley covered events that defined multiple generations — from the fall of the Iron Curtain to the Sept. 11 attacks.

Pauley is best known for her 13-year tenure as co-host of NBC’s “Today” show and her 12-year stint as co-host of “Dateline NBC.” In addition to her numerous journalism awards, Pauley also found public support and admiration for going public early about her struggle with bipolar disorder in her best-selling memoir “Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue.”

Another distinguished speaker receiving an honorary degree during the 2010 ceremony will be Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Bates alum Elizabeth Strout. Following her 1977 graduation from Bates, the English major discovered national acclaim for her three full-length fictional works, all of which were set in Maine and introduced audiences to captivating characters with complex emotional lives. 

Released in 1998, Strout’s first novel, “Amy and Isabelle,” won the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize, a Los Angeles Times award for a fiction debut and was made into a 2001 ABC movie. The Portland native’s third novel, “Olive Kitteridge,” won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and became a New York Times Best Seller.

Joining Pauley and Strout in this 2010 honorary circle will be James McCarthy, a Harvard professor of biological oceanography recognized internationally for helping communicate the science of climate change; Rennie Harris, the choreographer credited with bringing hip hop to the mainstream world of dance; and Teresa Woodruff, a researcher responsible for pioneering work in the care of women who will become infertile due to cancer treatment.

More than 450 members of the Bates’ Class of 2010 will accept their diplomas during the May ceremony. The class represents 33 states and 33 countries.