Apple CEO Tim Cook to Deliver 2017 MIT Commencement Address

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Apple chief executive Tim Cook will deliver MIT’s 2017 commencement address, the school announced Thursday afternoon.

Cook joined Apple in 1998 and was named CEO in 2011 following the resignation of late co-founder Steve Jobs. Prior to joining Apple, Cook made stops at tech giants Compaq and IBM.

“Mr. Cook’s brilliance as a business leader, his genuineness as a human being, and his passion for issues that matter to our community make his voice one that I know will resonate deeply with our graduates,” MIT President L. Rafael Reif said in a release. “I am delighted that he will join us for Commencement and eagerly await his charge to the Class of 2017.”

Cook, 56, received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University in 1982, followed by an MBA from Duke University in 1988. MIT class president Liana Ilutzi said Cook represents “the best of the entrepreneurial and fearless spirit of the MIT community.”

“Apple stands at the intersection of liberal arts and technology, and we’re proud to have many outstanding MIT graduates on our team,” Cook said. “We believe deeply that technology can be a powerful force for good, and I’m looking forward to speaking to the Class of 2017 as they look ahead to making their own mark on the world.”

Cook will address the Class of 2017 on June 9.