1/22/97 Contact: Robert Glidden, Ohio University, 614/593-1804

ATHENS, Ohio -- Matt Lauer, co-host of NBC-TV's "Today" show, will return to Ohio University June 14 as undergraduate commencement speaker.

Lauer, who attended Ohio University from 1975 to 1979, succeeded Bryant Gumbel Jan. 6 as co-host of the "Today" show after three years as news anchor and substitute co-host for the national daily morning news program. Lauer also is a former co-anchor of "News 4/Live at Five" for WNBC-TV in New York.

Ohio University President Robert Glidden also has extended an invitation to first lady Hillary Clinton to speak at one of Ohio University's two undergraduate commencement ceremonies. Mrs. Clinton is not likely to respond until spring, Glidden said. If she is unable to attend, Lauer will speak during both ceremonies.

"Matt Lauer is a credit to Ohio University," Glidden said. "He's a wonderful, talented person who has worked hard to achieve his dreams. I am delighted that he remembers his alma mater fondly and will return to speak to our graduates."

Lauer, 39, left Ohio University to pursue his broadcast career as producer for the noon news on WOWK-TV in Huntington, W.Va., in 1979, only four credits short of graduating. He had been an intern at the station during his senior year, and was told a job would be waiting for him after he completed his degree.

"I could have waited until the next fall to take the course. I felt a bird in the hand was the way to go," Lauer said in an interview Tuesday. Lauer currently is working with the School of Telecommunications to complete his degree.

Lauer, who grew up in Greenwich, Conn., joined WNBC in September 1992 from WWOR-TV in New York, where he had hosted the live daily talk and interview program "9 Broadcast Plaza" from 1989 to 1991. Lauer also has hosted several news and entertainment programs in New York, Philadelphia and Boston, and was the host of "PM Magazine" in several markets.

Succeeding Gumbel, who hosted "Today" for 15 years, is a "huge job," Lauer said. "It's one of the great jobs in broadcasting."