Valerie B. Jarrett, a senior White House adviser and close friend to the president, is set to deliver the spring commencement address at the University of Michigan Law School.

The 1981 Michigan Law School graduate will deliver the address at 2 p.m. May 8 at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, U-M announced today.

Valerie Jarrett

"I am very excited to return to the Michigan Law campus and congratulate this year's graduating class," Jarrett said in a written statement released today. "Some of the best times of my life were spent in Ann Arbor, and this is an incredible honor, not just as an alumna, but as somebody who's very familiar with how much we need these smart, talented and committed scholars to help us confront the many challenges facing our country."

Jarrett will visit Ann Arbor one week after President Barack Obama delivers spring commencement.

Obama will deliver the spring 2010 commencement address at the University of Michigan at 11 a.m. May 1, where he will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.

Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter