University of Scranton Class of 2026 Graduate Commencement Speaker Announced
Karen L. Pennington, Ph.D. ’76, G’83, H’15, will be the keynote speaker at The University of Scranton’s Class of 2026 graduate commencement. This year’s ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Mohegan Arena, Wilkes-Barre Township. Dr. Pennington, who received an undergraduate, graduate and honorary degree from Scranton, retired in 2021 from her position as vice president for student development and campus life at Montclair State. She’d worked 22 years at Montclair State as part of a 40-plus-year career in higher education administration.A trailblazing member of a landmark graduating class in The University of Scranton’s history, Karen L. Pennington, Ph.D. ’76, G’83, H’15, will return to deliver remarks as the keynote speaker at this year’s graduate commencement ceremony.
Dr. Pennington, who led strategic initiatives and managed complex departments through periods of growth and transition as a senior director in higher education, holds three degrees from Scranton and also worked for five years at her alma mater. Notably, her undergraduate class, the Class of 1976, was the University’s first undergraduate, full-time student class to include women.
“As one of the first women to graduate from The University of Scranton, Dr. Pennington’s role in the history of our institution cannot be understated. It is through such moments that values take root and communities learn how to grow toward greater justice and belonging,” said Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president. “Dr. Pennington has a keen understanding of this concept, as it has informed her own leadership in higher education, marked by inclusion and a steady commitment to the wellbeing and dignity of students and communities alike.”
This year’s graduate commencement will begin at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township. Doors open at 3:45 p.m. The undergraduate commencement will be held earlier in the day, beginning at 11 a.m.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in history from Scranton, Dr. Pennington worked at Gannon University and Ohio University before returning to her alma mater in 1980. Over the next five years at Scranton, she was an associate dean of students and director of student activities whose duties included managing the production of all activities for 50 co-curricular student organizations and overseeing the functions of elected student government and class officers.
From Scranton, Dr. Pennington held positions at the State University of New York at New Paltz and State University of New York at Geneseo until landing in January 1998 at Montclair State University in New Jersey.
Dr. Pennington worked at Montclair State for 22-plus years as vice president for student development and campus life. As its chief student affairs officer, Dr. Pennington was one of seven vice presidents who, with the president, set the university’s general policy and direction. She was responsible for hiring and developing staff; supervising and coordinating 23 departments and 300-plus employees; and serving as a media spokesperson for all activities involving students. Shortly before retiring in 2021, Dr. Pennington was awarded Montclair State’s Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Dr. Pennington credits The University of Scranton as being a formative and deeply influential part of her life. In particular, she says John R. Gavigan ’42, former vice president of student affairs and namesake of the University’s Gavigan Hall, instilled in her an appreciation for the purpose of serving and helping college students.
Dr. Pennington received an honorary degree in 2015 from The University of Scranton.
