Skidmore Names Commencement Speakers

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Luis A. Miranda Jr. and Luz Towns-Miranda will receive honorary degrees and address graduates at Skidmore College’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 18 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).

Miranda Jr. and Towns-Miranda have been married for 46 years, and raised Luz Miranda-Crespo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Miguel Towns in Manhattan. Lin-Manuel Miranda is the creator of the Broadway musicals “Hamilton” and “In the Heights.”

In the 1980s, Miranda Jr. was a special advisor for Hispanic Affairs to New York City Mayor Ed Koch and served in the David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani administrations. A founding partner of the MirRam Group, Miranda Jr. has consulted on several political campaigns, including the senatorial campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, and Kirsten Gillibrand. Most recently, he managed New York Attorney General Letitia James’ re-election campaign. Miranda’s memoir, “Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America,” will be released on May 7.

Towns-Miranda is a licensed psychologist and psychoanalyst. She is frequently called on as a consultant, working with The Community Association of Progressive Dominicans, as well as Acacia, a provider of mental health and substance abuse recovery services in the Bronx. Towns-Miranda worked as a New York City firehouse clinician following 9/11 and served on the New York State Board of Psychology. She currently serves on the boards of trustees of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the American Theater Wing, and on the national board of directors of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Skidmore’s Commencement exercises will begin at 10:40 a.m. Saturday, May 18. A livestream of the event will be available via the Skidmore website.