Western & Southern Chairman, President and CEO John F. Barrett to Address UC s June Graduates

John F. Barrett, chairman, president and CEO of Western & Southern Financial Group (a Fortune 500 company), will address graduates at the University of Cincinnati Spring Commencement Ceremonies.

The ceremonies take place at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday, June 11, at Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.

His message to graduates will reflect “Living the Dream.”

Barrett will also be recognized with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the 9 a.m. ceremony. The honorary degree represents the highest award from the university for Barrett’s contributions to society.

In addition to his outstanding leadership in the Cincinnati business community, Barrett is a longtime philanthropist, supporting Cincinnati’s economic development, the city’s youth, the arts and health care. That leadership includes his longtime dedication to supporting the Barrett Cancer Center at University Hospital – named for his father – which has a long-standing reputation for providing the most advanced and complete range of cancer services available in the region.

Barrett has served on numerous corporate boards of directors in Cincinnati, as well as charitable boards of trustees. He is currently a member of The Business Roundtable and The Financial Services Roundtable, both in Washington, D.C.

Barrett was born and raised in Cincinnati, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the UC College of Business in 1971. He was inducted into the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame in 2009.

Barrett was honored with the University of Cincinnati Award for Excellence in 2004. He is also a 1999 recipient of the Carl H. Lindner Award for Outstanding Business Achievement.

UC Commencement website