Nancy Grace, current publisher of the website Crime Online and former television host on HLN, is set to speak at this year’s Founder’s Day on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. in Willingham Auditorium.

“When searching for a speaker for Founders’ Day 2017, Heritage Life knew that we would have to find someone who would not only exceed our expectations, but also break the mold for what Founders’ Day [has] been,” said Committee Chair Reed Jones.

Jones explained that at Founder’s Day 2016 speaker Chancellor R. Kirby Godsey, “recounted his time as the longest serving President of the University and did an exceptional job.”

After having Chancellor Godsey last year, the committee searched for someone who would deliver a speech with a new perspective. “We chose Nancy Grace for several reasons, one being she has a unique outlook on Mercer University,” Jones said.

A Mercer University press release announced that Grace would be the speaker this year. Grace is a “Double Bear;” she earned her bachelor’s degree from Mercer’s College of Liberal Arts in 1981 and Juris Doctor from Mercer Law School in 1984. She also serves as a member on the Mercer Board of Trustees.

After her time at Mercer, Grace was “a powerful force behind CNN Headline News’ (HLN) top-rated Nancy Grace,” according to her biography on the website.

The biography listed that she has also made appearances on many television shows including “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The View,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Dr. Phil” and “Larry King Live.”

Aside from her legal work as a prosecutor, Grace the executive producer of a series of Hallmark films based on her New York Times bestselling mystery novels, according to her biography. It also said that in 2011, “Grace was named one of the most impactful and powerful women in entertainment by both leading industry trade magazines, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.”

Junior Tori Aina, who is planning to attend the speech given by Grace, said that it is sure to be an “exciting” event.

“When I applied to Mercer, I looked up people [Mercer alums], and I saw Nancy Grace, and I was like, ‘Oh that’s cool!’ It’s really cool that someone who made it in life and is a real adult wants to come back and speak to us,” Aina said.

The SGA Heritage Life Committee is continuing to plan the festivities for Founders’ Day 2017.  Jones said the group is looking forward to Grace’s address.

“We know that she [Grace] will deliver a service that will inspire our fellow Mercerians, and not soon be forgotten,” Jones said.