FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2007

For More Information: Annette Barnette
Public Relations & Marketing Director
Glenville State College
(304)462-4115

The Mountain State’s Homeland Security Advisor is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the 133rd commencement ceremony at Glenville State College. James Westbrooke Spears, a native of Elkins, West Virginia, will give the keynote address during the GSC commencement ceremony on May 12, 2007. Spears was appointed Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety and the State’s Homeland Security Advisor on January 17, 2005 by the Honorable Joe Manchin III, Governor of the State of West Virginia.

Secretary Spears is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina where he earned his BA in History as well as earning ROTC distinguished graduate honors. Spears earned a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California. He is also a graduate of the French military’s l’Ecole d’Etat-Major, Compeigne, France.

A 22-year veteran of the United States Army, Secretary Spears served in numerous capacities including serving as a principal advisor to six United States ambassadors. As Director of Program Development and Training for one of the U.S. Department of State’s largest aid programs to Africa, he negotiated with the governments of Kenya, Botswana, Senegal, Malawi, Mali, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Ethiopia in developing peacekeeping assistance and development programs for each country. He also served as U.S. Defense Attaché and acted on behalf of the U.S. Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for U.S. political-military policies in Slovakia. His extensive experience also includes the coordination of congressional and public affairs for the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Spears resides in Elkins with his wife, Ellen. They have four children, Patrick, Brooks, Logan, and Lauren.

The 133rd Glenville State College Commencement is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will take place in the Jesse R. Lilly, Jr. Gymnasium in GSC's Physical Education Building. Students completing their requirements for their degrees in August 2006, December 2006, and May 2007 will graduate that morning. The 160 graduates come from several counties throughout West Virginia, other states including Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia, Delaware, Ohio, Maryland, California, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Missouri, and other countries including Japan and Canada.