Previous Speakers And Honorary Degree Recipients

View a history of commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients from present until 1967.

  • Commencement Speakers

    Speaker

    Title

    Date

    Jennifer Craighead Carey '90, MM23

    Partner/Attorney, Barley Snyder

     12/9/2023 - All Colleges

    Patrick Leahy ’97

    Armenta Washington ’85

     

    Joseph W. Garner ’90

    Senior Advisor for Government Affairs and Public Policy at U.S. Election Assistance Commission

    Research Coordinator Senior at Penn Medicine

     

    Director of Research, Emerald Asset Management 

    5/6/23 College of EHSS Ceremony @ 9:00 a.m.

    5/6/23 College of SCITECH Ceremony @ 1:00 p.m.

    5/6/23 College of AHSS & LCOB Ceremony @ 5:00 p.m.

     
    Richard D. Clark Professor of Meteorology Emeritus at
    Millersville University    		 5/5/23 Grad Commencement Ceremony
    Brent D. Frey Retired Director, Worldwide Educational Leadership and Learning Apple, Inc.  12/11/22 - All Colleges
    Kevin B. Mahoney Chief Executive Officer for the University of Pennsylvania Health System 5/7/22 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony
    Silvia Vasquez-Lavado Peruvian-American mountaineer, author and social entrepreneur 5/7/22 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Damaris Rau

    Superintendent, School District of Lancaster

    5/6/22 Grad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Daniel Wubah

    15th President of Millersville University

    5/8/21 Undergrad Commencement Ceremonies

    Dr. Irvin Scott

    Senior Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education

    5/7/21 Grad Commencement Ceremonies

    Dr. Villas Prabhu

    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Millersville University

    5/6/21 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Michael Shirk

    Chief Executive Officer of The High Companies

    12/15/19 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony 

    Pedro Rivera

    Secretary of Education for the State of Pennsylvania

    5/11/19 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Ruth Benns-Suter

    Faculty Emeritus

    5/10/19 Graduate Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Daniel Greenstein

    Chancellor, Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education

    12/16/18 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. John Anderson

    14th President, Millersville University

    5/12/18 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El

    Millersville University Professor, Psychology

    5/11/18 Grad Commencement Ceremony

    Honorable Richard Gray

    Mayor of Lancaster City

    12/17/17

    Marie Harf

    Fox News Commentator, Former Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the United States Department of State

    5/13/17 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Dennis Downey

    Respected member of the Millersville University faculty since 1981

    5/12/16 Graduate Commencement Ceremony

    Thomas Baldrige

    President & CEO Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce & Industry

    12/11/16 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Guido M. Pichini

    Chairman of the Board of Governors (BOG) of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education

    5/7/16 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Ana Börger-Greco

    Associate Professor of Spanish, Millersville University

    5/6/16 Graduate Commencement Ceremony

    The Honorable Jordan Harris

    PA State Representative,
    186th District, &
    MU Alum

    12/13/15 Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Kim Lemon

    News Anchor, WGAL

    5/9/15
    Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Leroy Hopkins

    MU Professor of Foreign Languages

    5/8/15
    Grad Commencement Ceremony

    Maureen Powers

    Executive Officer, Lancaster YWCA

    12/14/15
    Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Lieutenant General David L. Mann

    3-Star Commanding General, U.S. Army

    5/10/14
    Undergrad Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Deborah T. Castellucci

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    5/9/14
    Grad Commencement Ceremony

    Roy B. Clair

    President of Clair Brothers Audio

    12/15/13
    Commencement Ceremony

    Dr. Francine G. McNairy

    President Emerita of Millersville University

    12/15/13
    Commencement Ceremony

    The Honorable Tom Corbett

    Governor, Commonwealth of PA

    5/18/13
    Undergrad Ceremony

    Dr. Cheryl Desmond

    MU Professor of Educational Foundations

    5/17/13
    Grad Ceremony

    Dr. Francine G. McNairy

    13th President of Millersville University

    12/16/12

    Dr. James Nevels

    Founder and Chairman, The Swarthmore Group

    5/12/12
    Undergrad Ceremony

    Dr. Kathryn Gregoire

    Professor and Chair, Social Work

    5/11/12
    Graduate Ceremony

    Kevin Harley

    Director of Communications and Press Secretary for Gov. Tom Corbett

    12/18/11

    Dr. Hugh Miller Herr

    MU Alum and Head of Biomechatronic Lab at M.I.T.

    05/07/11
    Undergrad Ceremony

    Dr. Thomas Bell

    MU Alum and Professor of Industry and Technology

    05/06/11
    Graduate Ceremony

    Dr. Sylvia Shellenberger

    Millersville University alumna and Professor of Family Medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine

             12/19/10

    Brian Gladden

    President and CEO, Dell Computers, Inc.

             05/08/10
    Undergrad Commencement

    Dr. Tiffany Wright

    Principal, York Technical High School

             05/07/10
    Graduate Commence.

    Dr. Sylvia Shellenberger

    Professor of Family Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine

             12/20/09
    (Commencement ceremony cancelled due to inclement weather)

    Don Eberly

    author, civic entrepreneur, and advocate for civil society and private philanthropy

             05/02/09

    Dr. Curtis A. Pettaway

    Professor of Urology and Cancer Biology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

            12/14/08

    Dr. Kenneth Melani

    President and CEO, Highmark, Inc.

            05/10/08

    Dr. Craig A. Camasta

    Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

           12/16/07

    The Hon Lawrence F. Stengel

    U.S. District Court/Eastern District of PA

           5/12/07

    Elizabeth Hirak Field, M.D.

    University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

          12/17/2006

    Soledad O’Brien

    Television Journalist and CNN Co-Anchor

           5/13/2006

    Paul Beideman

    Associated Banc Corp.

    12/18/05

    Dr. Albert Hunt

    The Wall Street Journal / CNN

    5/7/05

    Bennett J. Cooper, Esq. ‘67

    Insurance Brokerage Consultant

    12/19/04

    Dr. Brian Roper

    London Metropolitan University

    5/2/04

    Dana Chryst

    CEO, The Jay Group

    12/14/03

    Dr. Joseph A. Caputo

    President/MU

    5/17/03

    Phillip Walker

    		  

    12/15/02

    William Davis

    CEO, R. R. Donnelley & Sons

    5/11/02

    Dirksen Lehman

    Special Assistant to the United States President for Legislative Affairs

    12/16/01

    Dr. William Kristol

    Editor & Publisher of The Weekly Standard

    5/12/01

    John Stacks

    TIME Magazine s Editor for Creative Development

    12/17/00

    Judy Woodruff

    CNN news anchor

    5/13/00

    Dr. Howard L. Jones

    Professor of Curriculum and instruction at The University of Houston; member of MU class of 1962

    12/19/99

    The Honorable Mark S. Schweiker

    Lieutenant Governor
    State of Pennsylvania

    5/15/99

    Diane Koken

    Pennsylvania State Insurance Commissioner
    graduate of Millersville University

    12/20/98

    Doris Kearns Goodwin

    Pulitizer Prize winning author & historian; former Harvard professor

    5/16/98

    Richard Blouse

    President of Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce & 1967 graduate of Millersville University

    12/21/97

    Carole Simpson

    Emmy Award winning ABC News Senior Correspondent

    5/17/97

    Lt. Gen. Carol A. Mutter

    Marine Corps Deputy Chief of Staff
    for Manpower & Reserve Affairs

    12/15/96

    August commencements discontinued

    Kevin McCarthy

    Noted Stage, Screen, and Film Actor

    5/11/96

    Colonel Paul J. Evanko

    Commissioner, PA State Police & 1969 graduate of Millersville University

    12/17/95

    Dr. James W. White

    President, Association of PA State Colleges and University Faculties (APSCUF)

    8/17/95

    Daniel Schorr

    Veteran Report-Commentator and Senior News Analyst for National Public Radio

    5/13/95

    Stephen Gunzenhauser

    Maestro, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra

    12/18/94

    Ronald Porter, Sr.

    MU alumnus, President of RDP Consulting Services, Specialists in Human Resources Management, Pittsburgh, PA

    8/20/94

    Helen Thomas

    White House Bureau Chief for United Press International

    5/14/94

    The Honorable Noah W. Wenger

    PA State Senator (36th District)

    12/19/93

    Violet Geib

    MU Alumna and 1993 PA Teacher of the Year
    Teacher at Manheim Central Stiegel Elementary School

    8/21/93

    Andy Rooney

    CBS  60 Minutes

    5/15/93

    The Honorable Donald M. Carroll, Jr.

    PA Secretary of Education

    12/20/92

    Dr. John Michalcewiz

    Executive Director of the Commission on Secondary Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges & Universities

    8/22/92

    Dr. Linda M. Rhodes

    Secretary of Aging
    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    5/16/92

    Dr. Bernard C. Watson

    President and CEO
    William Penn Foundation
    Philadelphia, PA
    Honorary Degree Recipient,
    Doctorate of Humane Letters

    12/15/91

    Dr. John C. Martin

    Economic Analyst, Manager
    Martin O Connell Associates, Lancaster

    8/17/91

    Herman E. Armstrong

    Vice President of Operations
    Warner-Lambert Co., Lititiz, PA
    Received President s Medallion

    No formal commencement address was given at this commencement.

    5/11/91

    William J. Shaughnessy

    President and CEO
    Wilbur Chocolate Co., Inc.

    12/16/90

    Joseph F. Bard

    Commissioner for Basic Education
    PA Department of Education

    8/18/90

    William W. Adams

    Chairman of the Board & CEO
    Armstrong World Industries, Inc.(MU Honorary Degree Recipient: Doctorate of Humane Letters)
                                     and
    Mr. Franklin R. Eichler, President of the SICO Company & Treasurer of the SICO Foundation (Received1st President s Medallion on behalf of the SICO Foundation. 

    No formal commencement address was given at this commencement.

    5/12/90

    The Honorable Arthur E. Morris

    Mayor of the City of Lancaster

    12/17/89

    Joan M. Detz

    Author, Speech Writer, & MU Alumna

    8/19/89

    The Honorable Genevieve Blatt

    Senior Judge, Commonwealth Court of PA. Received honorary degree: Doctorate of Humane Letters

    5/13/89

    The Honorable Ronald R. Cowell

    Member, PA House of Representatives, 34th District

    12/18/88

    Dr. Charles R. Fuget

    Pennsylvania Commissioner for Higher Education

    8/20/88

    Dr. Jerrold S. Petrofsky

    Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine (MU Honorary Degree Recipient: Doctorate of Humane Letters)

    5/14/88

    The Honorable Louise G. Herr

    Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County

    12/19/87

    Madelyn P. Nix, Esq.

    In-house attorney, Ford New Holland, Inc.

    8/22/87

    The Honorable Mark S. Singel

    Lieutenant Governor
    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    5/9/87

    David R. Dodds

    Vice President and General Manager
    WGAL-TV

    12/14/86

    Dr. Mary Emily Hannah

    Vice Chancellor for Academic Policy and Planning, State System of Higher Education

    8/16/86

    Richard W. Moll

    Executive Director of Legal Personnel and External Affairs for the New York City law firm of Lord, Day & Lord
    Author of The Public Ivys

    5/10/86

    William W. Adams

    Executive Vice President
    Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

    12/14/85

    Dr. Harvey S. Long

    Educational Applications Consultant
    I.B.M. Corporation

    8/17/85

    Dr. James H. McCormick

    Chancellor of the State System of Higher Education in Pennsylvania

    5/11/85

    Judge Lisa A. Richette

    Judge of Common Pleas, City of Philadelphia
    Authoress of the Throw Away Children

    12/15/84

    Ms. Maggie Kuhn

    Founder of the Gray Panthers

    8/18/84

    Dr. C.T. Enus Wright

    President, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

    5/12/84

    Dr. Keith H. Lovin

    Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, MU

    12/17/83

    Eleanor Smeal

    Past President
    National Organization for Women

    8/20/83

    William Y. Rial, M.D.

    President, American Medical Association

    5/14/83

    Saul H. Mendlovitz, J.D.

    Vice President, Institute for World Order Studies, Columbia University

    12/18/82

    Jack Doyle

    Director, Rural Land & Energy Project
    Environmental Policies Institute

    8/21/82

    Robert E. White

    Former U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador

    5/15/82

    S. Dale High

    President, High Industries

    12/19/81

    Dr. W. Jack Cassidy

    Associate Professor, Elementary/Early Childhood Education, MU

    8/14/81

    James Lloyd, Jr.

    Senator, 5th District

    5/16/81

    Clayton Sommers

    Commissioner of Higher Education

    12/20/80

    G. Terry Madonna

    President, APSCUF-MU

    8/22/80

    Helen B. O Bannon

    Secretary of Public Welfare

    5/17/80

    Gibson E. Armstrong

    House of Representatives, 100th District

    12/21/79

    J. Craig Lewis

    Senator from the 67th District

    8/24/79

    Ethel D. Allen

    Secretary of the Commonwealth

    5/19/79

    Michael A. O Pake

    State Senator, Reading

    12/22/78

    Mark Ebersole

    President, Elizabethtown College

    8/25/78

    Robert Walker

    U.S. Congressman

    5/13/78

    --

    Commencement postponed until May

    12/77

    Paul H. Nichols

    Chairman, Department of Earth Science

    8/26/77

    Ralph W. Hess

    State Senator

    5/14/77

    Charles I. Kent

    Assistant to the President for Academic Affairs

    12/23/76

    Dr. Joseph E. Walker

    Professor Emeritus
    Millersville University

    8/20/76

    C. R. Ordal

    Vice President
    Worldwide Government Relations

    5/15/76

    Rev. James D. Glasse

    President, Lancaster Theological Seminary

    12/20/75

    Marvin E. Miller, Sr.

    State Representative, 97th District

    8/22/75

    Jeannete F. Reibman

    Chairman and Senator of State Education Committee

    5/10/75

    Richard A. Snyder

    State Senator

    12/21/74

    Richard Keller

    Department of History, MU

    8/30/74

    Helene Wolgemuth

    Secretary of Public Welfare

    5/15/74

    Theodore A. Distler

    Former Executive Director of Association of American Colleges in Washington, DC

    12/21/73

    D. L. Biemesderfer

    President Emeritus, MU

    8/31/73

    B. Anton Hess

    Executive Secretary, PA Association of American Colleges in Washington, DC

    5/11/73

    Arthur B. Sinkler

    Chairman, BSCUD

    12/22/72

    Rebecca F. Gross

    BSCUD

    8/25/72

    Justice Samuel J. Roberts

    Supreme Court of PA

    5/26/72

    Keith Spalding

    President, Franklin and Marshall College

    1/14/72

    James H. Rowland, Sr.

    President, National Assoc. of State Board
    of Education

    8/27/71

    Donald Barnhouse

    News Analyst and Commentator

    5/28/71

    Rev. James D. Glasse

    President, Lancaster Theological Seminary

    1/15/71

    Dr. W. Michael Blumenthal

    President, Bendix International

    8/28/70

    Dr. John R. Coleman

    President of Haverford College

    5/22/70

    Dr. Marvin Wachman

    Vice President for Academic Affairs
    Temple University

    1/16/70

    Dr. A. G. Breidenstine

    Former Dean of Academic Affairs

    8/29/69

    Dr. Bernard E. Donovan

    Superintendent of Schools of the City of New York

    5/23/69

    Dr. Harry D. Gideonse

    Chancellor of the New School for Social Research

    1/19/69

    Theodore R. McKeldin

    Former Governor of Maryland

    8/30/68

    Dr. John William Cataldo

    Director of Art Education
    Philadelphia College of Art

    5/24/68

    Marvin E. Miller

    House of Representatives

    1/ /68

    Frederic K. Miller

    Deputy Superintendent & Commissioner for Higher Education - Public Instruction

    8/25/67

    Dr. Roger Revelle

    Director of Center for Population Studies
    Harvard University

    5/26/67

    John C. Pittenger

    Director of Research
    Minority Caucus
    House of Representatives

    1/20/67
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  • Honorary Degree Recipients

    RECIPIENT

    DEGREE & OCCASION

    DATE REC’D.
    Thomas T. Baldrige
    President and CEO of the Lancaster Chamber    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		 5/7/22
    Kevin B. Mahoney
    CEO for the University of Pennsylvania Health System    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		 5/7/22
    Silvia Vasquez-Lavado
    Peruvian-American mountaineer, author and social entrepreneur    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:     Commencement    		 5/7/22
    Dr. Irvin Scott
    Senior Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		  5/7/21
    Dr. Rita Smith-Wade-El (Posthumously)
    Retired Faculty    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		  5/6/21
    Andrea Shirk
    General Manager of Rock Lititz    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:     Commencement    		 12/15/19
    Dr. Hugh M Herr '90
    Professor of Media Arts and Science at the MIT Media Lab, and Co-Director of the MIT Center for Extreme Bionics    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		  5/11/19
    Vivien Anderson
    Former first lady of Millersville University    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		  12/16/18
    Dr. John Anderson
    14th President of Millersville University    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		 12/16/18
    Honorable Richard Gray
    Mayor of Lancaster City    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		  12/17/17
    Dana Chryst '81
    President and CEO of The Jay Group    		 Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement    		  5/13/17

    Guido Pichini
    Outgoing Chairman, Board of Governors PASSHE President of WSK & Associates

    Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
    At: Commencement

    5/7/16

    Lieutenant General David L. Mann
    3-Star Commanding General, U.S. Army

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letter
    At:  Commencement

    5/10/14

    Dr. Roy B. Clair
    President of Clair Brothers Audio

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letter
    At:  Commencement

    12/15/13

    Dr. Francine G. McNairy
    President Emerita of Millersville University

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letter
    At:  Commencement

    12/15/13

    Dr. Stephen Kepchar
    Senior Vice President & Wealth Advisor
    Morgan Stanely

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letter
    At:  Commencement

    12/16/12

    Dr. Bennett Cooper
    Senior Distribution Consultant
    Branca-Rampart Financial Services, Inc.

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letter
    At:  Commencement

    12/16/12

    Dr. Carlos Graupera
    President, Spanish American Civic Association

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letter
    At:  Commencement

    5/12/12

    Dr. William Reuter
    Chairman and CEO, Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letter
    At:  Commencement

    5/12/12

    Dr. James Nevels
    Founder and Chairman, The Swarthmore Group

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letter
    At:  Commencement

    5/12/12

    Dr. Charles and Mrs. Patricia Robertson

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    12/19/10

    Senator Gibson E. Armstrong

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/02/09

    The Honorable Diane Koken
    Former Commonwealth of PA Insurance Commissioner

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/10/08

    Dr. Charles Winter

    Degree:  Doctor of Laws
    At:  Commencement

    05/10/08

    Samuel Lombardo
    CEO, The Benecon Group

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    12/16/07

    Paul S. Beideman ‘71
    CEO, Associated Bank Corp.

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    12/18/05

    Albert Hunt
    Exec. Editor, Washington for Bloomberg News

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/07/05

    Dr. Brian Roper
    CEO, London Metropolitan University

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/02/04

    Dr. Joseph A. Caputo
    MU President (1981-2003)

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/17/03

    Linda R. Caputo
    Wife of former MU President, Joseph Caputo

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/17/03

    Charles Hash ‘48
    COT member/Chair, Walshire Assurance Co.
    York, PA

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    12/15/02

    Willis W. Shenk
    Chair, Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    12/15/02

    Morris Dees
    Co-founder/Chief Counsel, Southern Poverty Law Ctr.

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Kenderdine Lecture

    11/09/00

    Arthur J. Glatfelter
    Chair, Glatfelter Insurance Grp.

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/16/98

    J. Freeland Chryst ‘50
    CEO, The Jay Group

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/16/98

    Miles Lerman
    U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council Chair

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/17/97

    Kevin McCarthy
    Noted stage & screen actor

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/11/96

    Anne B. Sweigart
    Chair & CEO, Denver & Ephrata Telegraph & Telephone Co., Ephrata, PA

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/13/95

    Dr. Elie Wiesel
    1989 Nobel Peace Prize recipient

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Holocaust Conference

    03/14/93

    Dr. Bernard C. Watson
    President & CEO, William Penn Foundation, Phila.

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    12/15/91

    Señor Camilo Jose Cela
    1989 Nobel Prize recipient for Literature

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Special campus visit

    09/28/90

    William W. Adams
    President & CEO, Armstrong World Industries

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/12/90

    Genevieve Blatt
    Senior Judge, Commonwealth Court of PA

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement

    05/13/89

    Dr. Jerrold S. Petrofsky
    Prof., Psych/Human Behavior, Univ. of CA, Irvine

    Degree:  Doctor of Humane Letters
    At:  Commencement
    (First MU honorary degree recipient)

    05/14/88
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