The university announced today the eight speakers for the undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies in May.
“This year’s commencement speakers are a distinguished group of professionals whose careers have provided them with an abundance of wisdom and life experience to share with our graduates,” Vice President for Public Affairs Lynn Bushnell said in a statement. “I am confident they will deliver addresses that will resonate with our graduates, their families and friends and the entire Quinnipiac University community.”
Undergraduate commencement will take place on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22 at the TD Bank Sports Center.
Students receiving their bachelor’s degrees from the College of Arts and Science at 9 a.m. on May 21 will hear a commencement address from Dr. Sharrona Williams. Williams is a Quinnipiac alumna and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon.
Vice President of Global Human Resources Peter Fasolo from Johnson & Johnson will deliver a commencement address to students receiving their bachelor’s degrees from the School of Business and Engineering at 1 p.m. on May 21.
At 5 p.m. on May 21, health science students receiving their bachelor’s degrees will hear a commencement address from Dr. Jennifer Ashton. Ashton is the ABC News’ chief women’s health correspondent.
Tom Foreman, an Emmy Award-winning CNN correspondent, will give a commencement address for the students receiving bachelor’s degrees from the School of Communications at 9 a.m. on May 22. Adrian Flannelly will receive an honorary degree. Flannelly is the chairman and CEO of Irish Radio Network USA.
Students receiving their bachelor’s degrees from the School of Nursing will hear a commencement address from Amy Berman at 1 p.m. on May 22. Berman is a senior program officer at the Hartford Foundation.
Students who earned graduate degrees in business, communications and education will hear from Connecticut’s Teacher of the Year and a finalist for the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Award Jahana Hayes at the ceremony on Saturday, May 14 at 9 a.m.
Later that day at 1 p.m., Steve McPherson, president and CEO of Masonicare, will give a speech to students who have completed graduate degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of health sciences, medicine and nursing.
Mary Bonauto, an attorney who is the civil rights project director at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, will speak at the School of Law ceremony on Sunday, May 15 at 9 a.m.
