Robert V. Taylor, chair of the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation Board, and internationally renowned speaker and social activist, will deliver the Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) commencement address today at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Taylor was sent to the United States by his mentor, Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in 1980, to avoid imprisonment for his anti-apartheid activity. There, he served in the Diocese of New York. He later went on to be elected to become dean of the Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, making him the first openly gay Episcopal dean in the United States. He is the board chair for the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation and serves on the board for the Endowment for Equal Justice, and was founding chair of the committee to End Homelessness in King County.

“Over this past year, our faculty and staff have had the opportunity to work closely with Robert through our equity, diversity and inclusion work, and community building efforts. He has dedicated his life to helping people realize their potential and live beyond their limitations, and I am looking forward to him inspiring our students,” said Dr. Amy Morrison, president of LWTech, in a press release.