BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Cory Booker earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science and a Masters in sociology from Stanford University about 20 years ago.

Now the Stanford graduate’s efforts to transform Newark are being recognized by the University. The Newark mayor has been announced as Commencement speaker for Stanford's 121st Commencement Weekend, June 16-17.

Booker was elected to the Associated Students of Stanford University council of presidents while at Stanford, and made the Pac-10 All-Academic team as a football player. The San Jose Mercury News reported that Booker was also involved in student government there, and operated a crisis hotline that helped young people in East Palo Alto. After leaving Stanford, Booker received a honors degree in modern history from Oxford University in 1994 and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale.