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
    Brent D. Frey Retired Director, Worldwide Educational Leadership and Learning Apple, Inc.  12/11/22 Grad/Undergrad Commencement Ceremony
    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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