SU alum Aaron Sorkin named 2012 commencement speaker

Syracuse University announced today SU alum Aaron Sorkin, well-known in the entertainment industry as a powerhouse screenwriter, filmmaker and playwright, will be the commencement speaker for the class of 2012.

Sorkin, who graduated from SU in 1983, has held a sustaining relationship with the university since the College of Visual and Performing Arts established the Sorkin in Los Angeles Learning Practicum in 2006.

Sorkin's won an Academy Award in 2011 for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Social Network about Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook's rise to fame, and earn an Academy Award nomination this year for Moneyball, about the Oakland A's baseball franchise.

In the television industry, Sorkin's work on the political drama West Wing helped the series earn nine Emmy Awards in its debut seasons. Also his writing has been note for the critically-acclaimed but short-lived Sports Night and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip series.

Sorkin will speak to the graduating class on Sunday, May 13, in the Carrier Dome.

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