Walden University will celebrate the graduation of more than 2,000 students—including the first from its Ed.D. program—at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at the University of Minnesota’s Northrop Auditorium, in Walden’s hometown of Minneapolis.

Speakers

Matt and Jessica Flannery, co-founders of the first person-to-person micro-lending Web site, www.Kiva.org, will give the commencement address at the traditional ceremony, which can be viewed live via webcast at www.WaldenU.edu. Kiva.org facilitates millions of dollars in low-cost loans between entrepreneurs in developing countries and socially minded individuals around the globe wishing to make funds available. 

The Flannerys will discuss the impact individuals can have in effecting positive social change. They will also talk about how micro-lending can reduce poverty in developing countries by helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses through flexible loans. 

Currently, Matt serves as CEO of Kiva.org, and Jessica is pursuing an M.B.A. at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Previously, while working for a micro-lending organization in Africa, the Flannerys were inspired by the impact of small loans to entrepreneurs. They sought help from people on their wedding invitation list to fund $3,100 in loans to seven businesses in Uganda. Since then, microfinance organization Kiva.org has attracted more than 40,000 members of the public to fund more than $3 million dollars in low-cost loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries.

More Information

Visit www.WaldenU.edu/commencement.

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