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Meredith Baxter to Speak at National University's Southern California Commencement

Celebrated actress, breast cancer survivor, successful entrepreneur

March 13, 2008

San Diego, Calif. – Meredith Baxter, celebrated actress, breast cancer survivor and successful entrepreneur, will serve as the keynote speaker for National University's 2008 San Diego commencement ceremony on Saturday, July 19, University President Dr. Dana L. Gibson announced today.

(Media Alert: Unlike previous years, National University's 2008 Southern California commencement will be held on Saturday, not Sunday.)

The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center and will include graduates from National University's campuses from throughout southern California, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Camarillo, Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, Ontario, San Bernardino and Twentynine Palms.

Ms. Baxter is noted for her accessible portrayals of intelligent, independent women who struggle with life's challenges. As a cancer survivor, she has faced her own challenges as well.
Ms. Baxter achieved success early in her career with a string of hit television series including "Bridget Loves Bernie, "Family," and "Family Ties." Later, she made a seamless transition to drama and quickly became one of the most sought-after actors in television movies.

Ms. Baxter relishes the challenge of characters who provoke thought, even antagonism, and is often courageous in her choice of roles. In 1991, she earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as the lead character in "A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story." In 1993, she earned another Emmy nomination for her performance in the CBS School Break Special, "Other Mothers."

Ms. Baxter has appeared in 53 films. Some of the most notable include: "Winnie," "Darkness Before Dawn," and "My Breast," a black comedy about the true story of journalist Joyce Wadler's successful battle with breast cancer. This role has come to have special meaning as Ms. Baxter also is a DCIS breast cancer survivor.

Ms. Baxter has her own production company and is a force behind the camera as well. In 1995, she was the executive producer of the ABC TV series, "The Faculty"; she also has served in the same capacity on a number of her television movies.

On stage, Ms. Baxter's credits include "Spine," "Butterflies Are Free," "Guys and Dolls," "Talley's Folly," and many different productions of "Love Letters." As an artist-in-residence at Dartmouth College, she starred in "The Country Wife" and appeared in and co-produced the stage presentation of "The Diaries of Adam and Eve," which was later taped from a Dallas stage for broadcast on PBS. The stage production of "Vanities" in which Ms. Baxter starred also was broadcast on HBO. Ms. Baxter had a cameo role in "All the President's Men" and also has co-starred in several other feature films.

Ms. Baxter has devoted much of her time to speaking out on important social issues. A champion of women's rights, she is an active supporter of NARAL and Planned Parenthood. For her work on "My Breast," she received a special award for public awareness from the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Ms. Baxter also is a member of the board of The Center to Prevent Handgun Violence and has lobbied extensively on behalf of the Brady Bill, the National Crime Bill and other gun control measures.

Over the past few years, Ms. Baxter has developed a line of skin care products. Her original line was test-marketed for one year with great success on the Home Shopping Network and is now available at Walgreen's. Ms. Baxter also developed a full gift line of skin care products, which are available in fine stores across the country. Because life has been kind to Ms. Baxter, she arranged that a portion of the profits from the sales of all her skin care products go to the Meredith Baxter Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.

For more information about Ms. Baxter or National University's commencement ceremony, please contact David Neville at (858) 642-8163, or visit www.nu.edu/Academics/Graduation/Commencement.html.

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