KNOXVILLE — The prime minister of Jordan will deliver the commencement address at UT graduation ceremonies at 9 a.m. May 11 in the Thompson-Boling Arena.
Ali Hussein Abu Ragheb, a 1967 graduate of UT’s college of engineering, became prime minister and minister of defense of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordon in June.
The Jordanian ambassador to the United States, Marwan Muasher, will accompany him to Knoxville.
Abu Ragheb, whose degree is in civil engineering, was elected to the Jordanian Parliament in 1993. He has served as minister of industry and trade, minister of energy and mineral resources, and chairman of the parliamentary finance committee.
After leaving UT, he was a project manager for the ministry of municipal and rural affairs and a partner and managing director of the National Engineering and Contracting Co. in Amman. He has served as president of the Jordan Contractors Association and has served on other private and public boards and councils.
Abu Ragheb has received the Grand Cordon of the Order of Al-Kawkab Al-Urduni and the Grand Cordon of the Order of Al-Nahda and is Knight of the Grand Cross in Italy.
Some 3,000 students will receive degrees during commencement activities.
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