Dr. David Kessler, dean of the Yale University School of Medicine and former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is to be the honorary chancellor at the College's Commencement on June 17.
He will deliver the main address and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree.
During his tenure at the FDA from 1990 to 1997, Kessler developed a number of regulatory policies, particularly those affecting the tobacco industry. Under his leadership, the FDA placed new restrictions on tobacco vending machines and advertisements in an effort to stop children and teens from smoking. The FDA also fought to regulate nicotine as a drug.
Kessler also led the way to other FDA regulations, such as improved standards for mammography, improved nutritional labels on products, and speeding up the drug approval process.
Kessler's leadership “transformed the beleaguered agency and U.S. public health policy,” according to an article in the Washington Post.