2018 Graduate Commencement Speaker Announced

The University of Scranton announced Peter J. Danchak ’84, regional president, PNC Bank, Northeast Pennsylvania, will serve as the principal speaker at its 2018 graduate commencement. He also will receive an honorary degree from the University at the ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, May 26, at 10:45 a.m. at the Byron Recreation Complex.

“Pete Danchak is a community leader who cares greatly for this area and is deeply committed to improving the lives of those in this region. We are proud to count him as one of our alumni and pleased to have him serve as principal speaker at our graduate commencement,” said Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., interim president of The University of Scranton.

Danchak earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University in 1984, the same year in which he joined PNC Bank. He held numerous positions with PNC bank, advancing in 1996 to senior vice president, division manager for the corporate banking line of business for the Northeast Pennsylvania market. He was named regional president of the Northeast Pennsylvania market of PNC Bank in January 2001.

Active in the community, Danchak currently serves as co-chair of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Boy Scouts of America 2018 Annual Dinner, co-chair of the Scranton Plan and co-chair of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission, to which he was appointed in 2008. He is a member of the executive leadership council of Pre-K Counts in Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the board of directors of AllOne Health Foundation, the ARC of Northeastern Pennsylvania Foundation and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry.

Danchak previously served as a trustee or member of the board of directors of numerous organization, including Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Luzerne Foundation, the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, King’s College, Keystone College, Johnson College, Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Scranton Chamber Board of Commerce, Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company and Marywood University. He also served on the advisory board of the University’s Kania School of Management and on the president’s advisory council for Keystone College. He was chairman of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties 2013/2014 Campaign.

Danchak received the University’s O’Hara Award for Community Service in 2004. O’Hara Awards are the highest honor bestowed jointly by the University and its Alumni Society and recognize alumni and others who have achieved distinction in their professions or personal endeavors.