Best known as an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, a position he has held since 2003, Brooks is also a regular commentator on “The PBS NewsHour” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” His writings and commentary explore culture, politics and the social sciences.

“As one of the top public intellectuals of our time, in his writings David Brooks inspires us to build community and seek a life of purpose,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “His deep reflections on society and culture – our values, the importance of personal relationships, defining true happiness and joy – are timely messages for our graduates as they set out on the next chapter of their lives.”

Brooks is author of several books, including the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, The Road to Character, which explores the road to a deeper inner life and explains why selflessness leads to greater success. In his most recent book, The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life, he draws heavily on personal experience, exploring what he considers the attributes that exemplify a life of meaning and purpose.

Brooks teaches at Yale University and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He joined The Weekly Standard at the magazine’s inception, serving as senior editor. He also worked for nine years at The Wall Street Journal in a range of positions, including op-ed editor. Brooks has also been a contributing editor at Newsweek and the Atlantic Monthly.

For more information about OU’s graduation ceremony, please visit www.ou.edu/commencement.

About the University of Oklahoma

Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information visit www.ou.edu.