Hopkins will no longer preside over Wright State commencement

Wright State University’s former president will no longer preside over commencement though he said he would when he resigned last month.

David Hopkins will not attend Wright State’s graduation set for 10 a.m. Saturday in the Nutter Center, said spokesman Seth Bauguess. Upon his resignation, Hopkins said he still planned to preside over graduation and go to the ArtsGala, which officials said he did attend.

Board of trustees chairman Michael Bridges said he received a call from Hopkins shortly after the ArtsGala. Hopkins told Bridges that he had decided to bow out of commencement after discussing it with some faculty members, Bridges said.

Instead, provost Tom Sudkamp will preside over graduation on Saturday.

Ohio House speaker Cliff Rosenberger will provide the keynote address to graduates this weekend just a year after he criticized WSU for its financial and legal troubles. Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, is a 2012 WSU graduate.

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Hopkins dropped his commencement duties before Rosenberger was confirmed as the ceremony’s speaker, Bridges said.

State Rep. Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, and State Sen. Bob Hackett, R-London, and their wives will attend but will not speak, Bauguess said.

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