AP General Counsel to Speak at NSM Spring Commencement


An Associated Press executive and University of Houston alumnus will deliver the address as approximately 500 UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics students don caps and gowns for commencement May 13. 

Photo of KasiSrinandan Kasi, AP vice president and general counsel, will speak at the ceremony that will begin at 2 p.m. in Hofheinz Pavilion.

Kasi, a native of India, earned a doctorate in chemistry from UH and worked as a research scientist at IBM. He was involved in chip design and microelectronics and holds four patents. Kasi became a lawyer after graduating from Columbia University Law School.

He now oversees legal activities and global business initiatives for the New York-based news organization. Before joining AP Kasi worked at a law firm handling corporate finance matters like mergers and acquisitions.

Graduates will receive degrees in 13 undergraduate majors. Three dozen of those bachelor’s degree candidates will get summa cum laude recognition for earning at least a 3.75 grade point average.  

More than 100 master’s and doctoral degrees also will be awarded. The college holds one graduation annually, so the event will include students who completed their degrees after the 2006 summer and fall semesters but will receive their ceremonial sheepskins at commencement.

Donald Foss, the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, and John Bear, NSM dean, also will be on hand to confer degrees and congratulate students.

A reception following the ceremony will be held at the pavilion’s upper concourse.