Green is also a prolific YouTuber and tuberculosis treatment influencer.

HOUSTON — Bestselling author and YouTube educator John Green will deliver the commencement address at Rice University’s undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 9 at 7 p.m. at Rice Stadium in Houston.

Green is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of young adult novels, including “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Looking for Alaska,” “Paper Towns” and “Turtles All the Way Down,” among others. Rice President Reginald DesRoches said Green was a great choice for the honor.

“John Green’s work has shaped how millions of young people think about the world and their place in it,” DesRoches said in an emailed news release. “His ability to combine storytelling, intellectual rigor and a deep commitment to the public good makes him an inspiring voice for our graduates as they prepare to lead in an increasingly complex world.”

“I’m honored to join Rice graduates and their families and friends for this extraordinary moment,” Green said. “It’s so exciting to be able to celebrate with students who’ve accomplished so much in their Rice careers.”

Beyond fiction writing, Green has built a massive educational footprint online. Together with his brother Hank, he co-created the YouTube channel vlogbrothers, which has surpassed 1 billion views, and the educational channel Crash Course, which now boasts more than 16.9 million subscribers and over 2 billion views. The brothers also co-founded Complexly, an educational media company, and DFTBA Records, a creator-driven merchandise company. DFTBA stands for “Don’t forget to be awesome,” a tagline of their online community, called Nerdfighters.

Their philanthropic work extends to Good.Store, launched in 2019, which donates 100% of its profits to charitable causes,  reducing poverty, supporting global health and promoting civic engagement.

John Green’s most recent work is called “Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection,” a non-fiction book about how human choices have contributed to the continuation of this curable disease.

Green is the recipient of the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award and a 2009 Edgar Award and has twice been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Several of his novels have been adapted for film and television. He grew up in Orlando, Florida, graduated from Kenyon College and currently lives in Indianapolis with his family.

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