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Penn State Announces 2022 Commencement Speakers

Graduation is right around the corner, folks. With that, Penn State shared its list of commencement speakers for the graduating Class of 2022.

Between Emmy Award winners, Super Bowl champions, artists, and more, plenty of wisdom will be shared this weekend. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each college’s commencement plans and speakers.

Schreyer Honors College

Schreyer’s medal ceremony will run from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at Pegula Ice Arena. More information can be found here.

College of Agricultural Sciences

Senior associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, Steven Loerch, will speak at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 8, at Pegula.

College of Arts and Architecture

Visual artist Dread Scott will speak at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the Eisenhower Auditorium. Scott is best known for his multimedia work that prompts critical conversations about social and historical issues.

Smeal College of Business

Smeal’s graduating seniors will hear from Lara Warner, who is a Penn State alum and former group chief risk and compliance officer for Credit Suisse. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

Don Roy King, the former “Saturday Night Live” director and legendary television producer, will treat the College of Communications with a talk. King is an 11-time Emmy winner and was a guest on Onward State’s podcast, Podward State. He will speak at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the BJC.

College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Penn State President Eric Barron will share his wisdom with the College of Earth and Mineral Science graduates at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, at Pegula Ice Arena. Back in the day, Barron received his bachelor’s degree in geology from Florida State and is a former EMS dean at Penn State.

College of Education

Former Penn State offensive lineman and two-time Super Bowl champion Stefen Wisniewski will speak with the College of Education graduates. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 8, at Pegula Ice Arena. Wisniewski received a degree in secondary education and played three seasons for Penn State football.

College of Engineering

Penn State alumna and chief technology ambassador of Verizon, Nicola “Nicki” Palmer, will speak at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at the BJC.

College of Health and Human Development

Assistant professor of education at the UC Davis MIND Institute, Faheemah Mustafaa, will speak to HHD students at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 8, at the BJC. Mustafaa is a 2001 biobehavioral health graduate and Bunton Waller Scholar.

College of Information Sciences and Technology

The College of IST’s ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, at Pegula. Chandra McMahon, Penn State alum and senior vice president and chief information security officer at CVS Health, will speak.

Penn State Law at University Park

United States Court of Appeals Judge Theodore A. McKee will speak to Penn State’s graduating law students at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at the Eisenhower Auditorium. McKee was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 1994 by President Bill Clinton and was chief judge from 2010 to 2016.

College of the Liberal Arts

The College of the Liberal Arts’ ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the BJC. Binney H.C. Wietlisbach, Penn State graduate and president of The Harvard Trust Company, will speak at the ceremony.

Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing

The chief of clinical enterprise operations at Inova, Toni Ardabell, will speak to the graduating nursing students. The ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the Eisenhower Auditorium.

Eberly College of Science

Eberly’s commencement speaker is Dani S. Bassett, who is a University of Pennsylvania professor with appointments in the departments of bioengineering, electrical and systems engineering, physics and astronomy, neurology, and psychiatry. They will speak at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, at the BJC.

The Graduate School

Master’s and doctoral candidates will have their ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, at the BJC. This year’s speaker is Dr. B. Stephen Carpenter II, dean of the College of Arts and Architecture and professor of art education and African American studies.

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About the Author

Colleen Nersten

Colleen is a washed-up biology grad and former associate editor. Her legacy will live on through stories like “10 Questions With State College Sensation ‘Hot UPS Bae’”. If you’re a STEM girlie, this is your sign to take the leap of faith and learn to write. It’s pretty fun. Colleen misses the hate mail and can be reached at [email protected] or via LinkedIn.

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