Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, center, with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, left, speaks about the current situation in the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia at a forum in Washington, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, center, with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, left, speaks about the current situation in the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia at a forum in Washington, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

LEWISBURG — Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will be the keynote speaker at Bucknell University’s 169th Commencement May 19.

Albright served as the 64th Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001. The first female to serve in that position, Albright is among the highest-ranking women in the history of the country’s government. During her tenure, she reinforced U.S. alliances, advocated for democracy and human rights and promoted American trade, business, labor and environmental standards abroad.

“Secretary Albright’s life of courageous service has not only left an indelible mark on the world in which we live, but it is also a profound example of what one can achieve when equipped with the critical thinking skills, creativity and intellectual curiosity associated with a broad education,” John Bravman, Bucknell president, said.

Albright earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from Wellesley College and master’s and doctoral degrees from Columbia University.

From 1993 to 1997 Albright served as the permanent representative to the United Nations and was a member of the President’s Cabinet. Prior to that, from 1989 to 1992, she served as the president of the Center for National Policy and was a member of President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Council and White House staff. More recently, in 2009, Albright was asked by the NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen, to chair a group of experts focused on developing NATO’s New Strategic Concept.

Currently Albright is a professor in the practice of diplomacy at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She also chairs the National Democratic Institute of International Affairs and is a member of the Department of Defense’s defense policy board and the board of the Aspen Institute.

Albright is the author of several best-selling books including her latest, “Facism: A Warning” which became a number one New York Times best-seller last year.

“It is a true honor to have Secretary Albright accept our invitation to speak at commencement,” said Bucknell Class of 2019 President Laura Bart. “The work that she’s done to both break down barriers for women at the highest level of U.S. international diplomacy and to fight for democracy and human rights across the globe are true sources of inspiration that will no doubt resonate with the senior class.”