DANBURY, CONN. — Stephen F. Angel, chairman, president and CEO of Praxair Inc., will speak to students receiving graduate and doctoral degrees at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 20, in the Feldman Arena of the William O’Neill Athletic and Convocation Center on the Western Connecticut State University Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.

Angel joined Praxair in 2001 as executive vice president overseeing the company’s businesses in North America, Europe and Asia, as well as its healthcare division. He was named president and chief operating officer in 2006 and became chairman in 2007.

Prior to joining Praxair, Angel worked for General Electric, beginning in 1979. After several promotions, he became general manager of GE’s power equipment business, directing eight business units and six joint ventures in four countries.

Angel is a director on several boards, including PPG Industries, the U.S.-China Business Council and the American Chemistry Council. He also is a member of the Business Roundtable and the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum.

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Angel holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and an M.B.A. from Loyola College in Baltimore, Md.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, with 2010 sales of $10 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings.

For more information, call (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.