Ithaca College will hold its 130th Commencement on Sunday, May 18, with some 952 graduates celebrated in a 10 a.m. ceremony in Glazer Arena in the Athletics & Events Center.
Delivering the main address will be alumna Monica Digilio ’85, M. S. ’86, a distinguished executive who has led human resources for some of the most well-known global brands in hospitality and entertainment, including Atlantis Resorts, One&Only, Caesars Entertainment, and Montage International.
In 2021 Digilio founded Compass Advisors LLC, which provides strategic advisory support to senior-level executives, private equity investors, and boards of directors, with a focus on human capital strategy and management, business leadership, talent development, and organizational planning. She currently serves on the boards of directors of Seaport Entertainment Group, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, CopperPoint Insurance Companies, and Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.
Alumnus Bob Iger, the chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company, will be recognized with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree at the ceremony. Widely recognized as one of the world’s most consequential business leaders, Iger earned his degree in television-radio from IC in 1973.
Iger started his career at ABC, officially joining the Disney senior management team in 1996. After retiring as executive chairman in 2021, he returned to the company as CEO a year later and has led a significant, enterprise-wide transformation to restore creativity to the center of the company and position Disney’s streaming business for sustained growth and profitability. Throughout his career, Iger has remained a passionate and involved member of the Ithaca College community.
Senior Jasmine Williams will speak on behalf of her fellow graduates. All undergraduate members of the Class of 2025 were invited to apply to be chosen to represent their classmates as the event’s student speaker.
Williams will be receiving her BFA degree in Acting from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Her leadership roles on campus have included serving as president of Black Artists United and as student manager for the BOLD Women’s Leadership Network. She has also been a member of the Amani Gospel Singers and a Student Leadership Consultant in the Office of Student Engagement.
Both Saturday’s Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony and Sunday’s Commencement Ceremony will be streamed live at ithaca.edu/commencement/livestream.
Also delivering remarks at Commencement will be Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish; John Neeson ’84, chair of the Ithaca College Board of Trustees; and Sarah Richards ’89, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
A Graduate Hooding and Commencement ceremony will be held in Glazer Arena at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, to recognize all Ithaca College students who are earning master’s and doctoral degrees.
Andrew M. Smith, Dana Professor of Biology in the School of Humanities and Sciences, will be the featured speaker for that event. As a researcher, educator, and innovator, Smith has made groundbreaking contributions to the study of bio-inspired adhesives, particularly in medical applications. His research focuses on the biochemistry and biomechanics of natural glues, uncovering mechanisms that help inspire the development of advanced adhesives for use in healthcare.
For more information, visit ithaca.edu/commencement.