Vice President Biden to speak at Penn commencement

Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the commencement address at the University of Pennsylvania in May, the university announced Tuesday.

Commencement is scheduled for Monday, May 13 at Franklin Field.

"In his career-long work in government, his consummate dedication to public service and his finely-honed capacity to craft landmark bipartisan legislation, Joe Biden has improved the lives of countless fellow Americans and people around the world," Penn President Amy Gutmann said in a prepared statement. "From shaping U.S. foreign policy to creating laws that protect civil liberties and prevent crime, Joe Biden has earned enormous respect and admiration at home and abroad as a major force for making our nation a better country. He is the perfect choice to address the 257th class of Penn graduates as we prepare to launch our wonderful students into the world."

The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn's student newspaper, broke the news this morning, noting that it marks the first time a sitting vice president has served as commencement speaker.

Biden previously spoke at Penn's School of Social Policy & Practice's commencement in 2010, The Daily Pennsylvanian noted. His daughter, Ashley graduated with a master's degree in social work that year.