WPI

Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. 

Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. was the first African American to walk in space;  now, on Saturday, May 16, he will inspire graduates to take the first steps into the rest of their lives.  Harris was a medical doctor and researcher before joining the corps of NASA astronaut in 1990.  Since then, he has established the nonprofit organization, the Harris Foundation, and is currently the CEO and managing partner at the venture capital firm, Vesalius Ventures, Inc.
 

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Becker College

Karen Rohan

The Class of 2015 will have the privilege of hearing Karen Rohan, the President of Aetna, Inc., speak at the DCU center on Saturday, May 9.  Rohan was appointed president in January of this year, and since then has lead the health care benefit company in servicing over 46 million people.  Rohan has worked in the health care industry for over 30 years, holding executive roles with companies such as Magellan Health Services and CIGNA.  

Photo courtesy of Becker College

Anna Maria College

Fr. John Madden

A pastor in Worcester since 2005, Fr. John Madden of St. John's Parish will be speaking on Saturday, May 16, at the College's commencement exercises.  Fr. Madden has been an example of leadership and service within the community, and has overseen services such as Food for the Poor and its afterschool programs, as well as the parish soup kitchen.

Worcester State University

Dan Kenary

Dan Kenary, co-founder and CEO of Boston's Harpoon Brewery, will be speaking on Saturday, May 16, at the DCU Center.  A native of Worcester, Kenary was backpacking through Europe when he was inspired to establish his own brewery.  A few decades, this brewery has become  a multi-billion-dollar craft beer industry - the 12th largest in the nation!

Photo courtesy of Worcester State University

Holy Cross

Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson, a public interest lawyer and founder/executive director of Equal Justice Initiative, will address the Class of 2015 on Friday, May 22.  Stevenson has devoted his life to being a voice for the voiceless in society - the poor, the incarcerated, the condemned.  Most recently, he won a landmark Supreme Court case which makes it unconstitutional for children 17 or younger to be sentenced life-without-parole.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia 

Assumption College

Major General Robert Catalanotti

Major General Robert Catalanotti, a leading commanding military official in the Iraq War, will be honoring both his country and its college graduates on Saturday, May 16.  A recipient of the Bronze Star, Catalanotti was in charge of American, European, and Iraqi soldiers at Camp Taji, Iraq, from 2004 to 2005.  He is now the COO/director of the Military Veteran's Psychology Program at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia 

Clark University

Matt Goldman

As the co-founder of both the Blue Man Group and the Blue School in Manhattan, Matt Goldman "epitomizes the Clark entrepreneurial spirit, combining his artistic talent with business savvy in his career."  Goldman has been chosen to speak at the commencement exercises on Sunday, May 17 where he will inspire graduates to turn their passions into careers.

Photo courtesy of Clark University

Nichols College

Roger Berkowitz

Roger Berkowitz is the President and CEO of Legal Sea Foods and will give the address at the 2015 commencement ceremonies at Nichols College on May 9. 

Since taking over at Legal Sea Foods, Berkowitz has helped the company grow to 33 restaurants along the east coast, 23 of which are in Massachusetts. 

Berkowitz oversees the company's restaurant, retail, and mail order divisions and leads a group of 4,000 employees.