Giffords To Front Law School Class Day

Former member of Congress Gabrielle Giffords and her spouse Mark Kelly will deliver remarks as this year’s Harvard Law School Class Day speakers, the school announced on Tuesday. The couple will speak on May 27.

Giffords served in the United States House of Representatives from 2007 until her resignation in 2012, representing Arizona’s 8th District.

In 2011, Giffords survived an assassination attempt when she was shot in the head while having a public meeting near Tucson. Six people were killed and 13 were injured in the attack. The event and Gifford’s subsequent recovery process thrust her and her husband into the national spotlight. After several months, some of which she spent in a coma, Giffords returned to the House, but resigned soon afterwards to finish her recovery.

Her husband, Mark Kelly, is an Astronaut for NASA, naval aviator, and author. He flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavor  in 2011.

Following her career in Congress, Giffords became an outspoken advocate for gun legislation. She created a political action committee Americans for Responsible Solutions, which focuses on reducing gun violence.

Deval L. Patrick ’78, former Massachusetts governor, will be this year’s Commencement speaker.

—Staff writer Andrew M. Duehren can be reached at andy.duehren@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @aduehren.