Chao receives honorary degree

During the President's Circle Gala on May 20, WKU President Gary Ransdell presented an honorary doctor of public service degree to Elaine Chao, a former U.S. Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush. Chao is the first American woman of Asian descent, and the first Kentuckian since 1945, to be appointed to the president’s cabinet. She is now a distinguished fellow at The Heritage Foundation. In addition to recognizing major gift donors, The President's Circle Gala also celebrated the first anniversary of the Confucius Institute at WKU and the grand opening of the Chinese Learning Center. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)