The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock will deliver the commencement addresses for graduate and undergraduate students respectively, at the University of Denver's 149th commencement ceremony to be held on June 7 and 8.

Both the leaders are set to receive honorary doctorates for public service.

 "Ban, a strong advocate for sustainable development, has strived to mobilize world leaders and the global public around such pressing challenges as eradicating poverty and hunger, advancing global health, addressing climate change, strengthening peacekeeping and conflict prevention and empowering the world's women and young people," the university said.

Ban, the world's top diplomat, was sworn in as the eighth Secretary-General of the U.N. in January 2007. Two years ago, in June 2011, he was unanimously re-elected by the General Assembly and will serve on the post until Dec. 31, 2016.

Ban Ki-moon earned his bachelor's degree in international relations from Seoul National University, 1970, and master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985.

Ban has consistently encouraged world leaders to concentrate on critical issues such as sustainable development, poverty, hunger, global health, gender equality, climate change, global peacekeeping, economic turmoil and conflict prevention.

Prior to the U.N., he served on various administrable positions throughout South Korea, including  as minister of foreign affairs and trade; foreign policy adviser to the president; chief national security adviser to the president; deputy minister for policy planning and director-general of American affairs.

Michael Hancock assumed the role of mayor two years ago and since then has spearheaded efforts to transform Denver into a 'smart city' by concentrating on innovation, job opportunities and education.

Hancock has introduced international flights to Tokyo, Iceland and Mexico City and placed well-trained police officers from desks to the streets. He earned his BA in political science and minor in communications from Hastings College, 1991, and master's degree in public administration from the University of Colorado-Denver, 1995.