Salman Rushie and friends

Salman Rushdie will give the keynote address at Emory University's commencement ceremony this spring.

The university made the announcement Monday. Rushdie also will receive an honorary doctors of letters degree from the Atlanta university.

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Emory's first provost Billy Frye and chairman of the Rollins, Inc. board of directors R. Randall Rollins also will receive honorary degrees.

About 15,000 people are expected to attend the May 11 ceremony on Emory's campus.

Tags: Emory, Emory University, Salman Rushdie, Shirley Franklin, Billy Fry, R. Randall Rollins, commencemente