Here’s who’s speaking at Pitt’s 2025 graduate and professional commencement ceremonies

Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

When: Thursday, May 1, 11 a.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Field House
Speaker: Linda Wharton Boyd (A&S ’72, ’75G, ’79G), a three-time Dietrich School alumna with an extensive career in organizational development, strategic communications, media relations and marketing. Notably, she served as director of communications for the District of Columbia's Executive Office of the Mayor and as chief communications officer for District of Columbia Public Schools.

School of Education

When: Thursday, May 1, 6 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Field House
Speaker: Saleem Ghubril is executive director of the Pittsburgh Promise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing college scholarships to Pittsburgh Public School graduates. He also founded the Pittsburgh Project, a community development organization that has been providing free home renovations to vulnerable seniors and engaging thousands of youth in volunteer service since 1985. He also serves on the boards of the Buhl Foundation, the Hear Foundation, Pittsburgh Scholar House and UPMC.

School of Nursing

When: Friday, May 2, 10 a.m.
Where: Carnegie Music Hall

Find more details on the ceremony, which will recognize graduates from bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs.

School of Pharmacy

When: Friday, May 2, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
Speakers: PharmD Class of 2025 President Anneliese Harp has held several leadership roles, including as chair of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Student Advisory Board, and founded the Association of Student Oncology Pharmacists. PhD graduate Jacob Cuyler has been commended by the School of Pharmacy for his dedication as a teaching assistant. In 2023, he assumed instructor duties for the Dosage Form, Design and Delivery course, managing multiple responsibilities and ensuring high-quality content for PharmD students.

Swanson School of Engineering

When: Friday, May 2, 2 p.m.
Where: Bellefield Hall Auditorium
Speaker: Lloyd Yates (ENGR ’82) is president and CEO of NiSource Inc., overseeing energy services for nearly 4 million customers across six states. With more than 40 years in the utility industry, he held executive roles at Duke Energy, including executive vice president of customer and delivery operations and president of the Carolinas region. Along with a Pitt bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Yakes earned an MBA from St. Joseph's University.

The school will also host several departmental ceremonies honoring graduates.

School of Public and International Affairs

When: Friday, May 2, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
Speaker: Itha Cao (SPIA ’15G) is an an experienced project manager and strategic partnerships leader. In her current position at Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney, Cao enhances operational and budgetary effectiveness as part of the law firm’s Department of Practice Administration. Her earlier work in the nonprofit sector involved leading a computer skills education and laptop distribution initiative in Pittsburgh's Homewood, Hill District and East End neighborhoods. She also collaborated with community stakeholders under former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto to spearhead impactful local projects.

Find other ceremony details and learn more about Cao on the SPIA website.

School of Public Health

When: Friday, May 2, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Music Hall
Speaker: As president of Microsoft Research, Peter Lee leads initiatives in artificial intelligence, computing foundations, health and life sciences. Before joining Microsoft, he established a technology office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and served as head of the computer science department at Carnegie Mellon University. He earned his doctorate in computer and communication sciences from the University of Michigan. Lee is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and co-author of “The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond.”

School of Computing and Information

When: Friday, May 2, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Field House

RSVP and find more details on the SCI website.

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

When: Saturday, May 3, 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
Speakers: The morning ceremony speaker is Joseph M. David (A&S ’86, SHRS ’88G), owner of David Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Centers. He also serves as the head basketball coach at Mt. Lebanon High School and co-owner of the Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia in Italy. Meagan Sampogna Williams (SHRS ’00), a recipient of the SHRS Distinguished Alumni Award, will speak at the afternoon ceremony. She is the chief Operating officer of the U.S. Oncology Network. Williams also serves on the SHRS Board of Visitors and the Pitt Alumni Association Board, where she chairs the Awards Committee.

School of Business

When: Saturday, May 3, 11 a.m.
Where: Petersen Events Center
Speaker: Gene Anderson is Henry E. Haller Jr. Dean of the School of Business. A respected scholar with research published in premier academic marketing journals, this year he was named faculty member of the year for the school.

School of Social Work

When: Sunday, May 4, 5 p.m.
Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
Speaker: Chad Dion Lassiter, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, is a national expert in American race relations. He was appointed by former President Joe Biden to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity for Black Americans and has been recognized as one of the most influential African American leaders by the Philadelphia Tribune.

School of Law

When: Thursday, May 8, 11 a.m.
Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
Speaker: Gregory B. Jordan (LAW ’84), vice chairman of the PNC Financial Services Group, retired from his longtime role as the company’s general counsel and chief administrative officer in 2024. Jordan played a pivotal role in major transactions, including the BBVA USA acquisition in 2021. Prior to his time at PNC, he served as global managing partner of Reed Smith, leading the firm’s expansion into a global legal powerhouse. Jordan serves on the boards of Highmark Health, MSA Safety Inc. and the Pro Bono Institute. He has been honored as a Pitt Legacy Laureate for his personal and career achievements.

School of Dental Medicine

When: Saturday, May 17, 1 p.m.
Where: Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
Speakers: The student speakers at the ceremony will include graduating student leaders from the school’s programs: Dental Class of 2025 President Jared Brown, Dental Hygiene Class of 2025 President My Linh Hoang, graduate student representative Nadine Robert and resident representative Sara Patterson.

School of Medicine

When: Sunday, May 18, 2 p.m.
Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
Speaker: Myron L. Rolle is a neurosurgeon, former professional football player and Rhodes scholar whose career spans athletics, academia and medicine. He played as a safety for the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. Prior to his professional football career, Rolle was athlete and scholar at Florida State University, earning All-American honors and completing his undergraduate degree in exercise science. He earned his master’s degree in medical anthropology from the University of Oxford. After retiring from the NFL, Rolle earned his medical degree at the Florida State University College of Medicine and completed his neurosurgery residency at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.

For more information on the University-wide undergraduate commencement ceremony and additional details, please visit the Pitt’s commencement website. Get timely updates on your feed by following @PittCommencement on Instagram.

Photography by Aimee Obidzinski

Donovan Harrell

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