Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) will be the commencement speaker when Lander University conducts its fall graduation ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 12.
Gowdy is in his third term as U.S. Representative from the 4th Congressional District, which includes Spartanburg and Union counties, and portions of Greenville and Laurens counties. In May of last year, he was named Chairman of the House Select Committee investigating events surrounding the terrorist attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya.
He is also a member of the House Committees on Ethics, Oversight and Government Reform, and Judiciary, and he serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Gowdy graduated from Baylor University with a degree in history and went on to earn a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the scholastic honor society.
He was a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for six years before his election as 7th Circuit Solicitor. During his tenure as solicitor, he appointed a Violence Against Women Task Force and created a protocol to help expectant mothers with drug habits to break their cycle of addiction. He also expanded the Drug Court and implemented a Worthless Check program.
Gowdy has been recognized for his commitment to victim's rights, excellence in prosecuting death penalty cases and enforcing drunk driving laws.
He and his wife, Terri, have two children.
The Lander commencement will be held in the Finis Horne Arena, beginning at 11 a.m.