117th Commencement

More than 3,000 students will experience one of life's proudest moments when they receive their degrees from President Subra Suresh at Carnegie Mellon University's 117th Commencement Ceremony, Sunday, May 18, in Gesling Stadium on the Pittsburgh campus.

Guests attending the ceremony will be asked to be seated at 10 a.m. Graduates will begin processing to their seats at 10:15 a.m. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., rain or shine.

This will be the first CMU Commencement Ceremony that President Suresh has presided over. He spoke at the CMU-Qatar Graduation Ceremony last week.

Student speaker Bryan Lewis (E'13 '14) hopes to inspire the audience with his speech about helping others reach their potential.

"By extending your hand and bringing someone along, helping them get to where they need to be, you can find a greater purpose in yourself," said Lewis, who will be receiving his master's degree in energy science, technology and policy after earning a bachelor's degree in civil and environmental engineering and engineering and public policy a year ago.

CMU alumnus and trustee Jeffrey Housenbold, president and CEO of Shutterfly Inc., will give the keynote address.

An Andrew Carnegie Presidential Scholar, Housenbold earned his bachelor's degree in economics and business administration from CMU in 1991 and his MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a Dean's Fellow. He rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most successful new-media entrepreneurs in the world with a successful track record of building profitable, online consumer brands by artfully combining commerce and community.

Housenbold has earned numerous honors, from Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year and Most Admired CEO by the San Francisco Times, to one of the "40 Under 40" by BusinessWeek and Corporate Leader magazines. His company, the leading manufacturer and digital retailer of high-quality personalized products and services, has been recognized for its business achievements and admirable workplace culture.

Honorary degrees will be given to three exemplary leaders whose life and work serve as an inspiration for CMU students, faculty and staff:

John Wells, a 1979 graduate of CMU's School of Drama and one of the most influential and successful producer-directors in American film and television, will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Wells is the creative force behind two of television's most popular programs of the past two decades, "ER" and "The West Wing." His recent work in television includes the TNT series "Southland" and Showtime's "Shameless." In 2013, he produced and directed "August: Osage County," which starred Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, and received two Academy Award nominations.

Manfred Honeck, internationally renowned music director for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO), will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Honeck has led the PSO since 2008 to great acclaim. He is a sought-after guest conductor who has performed with some of the leading orchestras of the world.

Telle Whitney, president and CEO of the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, will be awarded a Doctor of Science and Technology degree. Under her leadership, the Anita Borg Institute has expanded opportunities for women in technology professions, enabling women to make new and varied contributions to computing and related fields. She has earned numerous awards for her work, including the Association for Computing Machinery's Distinguished Service Award.

For guests who wish to view the event indoors, the ceremony will be simulcast in McConomy Auditorium, first floor, Jared L. Cohon University Center.

Those unable to be on campus for the ceremony can watch via webcast at http://www.cmu.edu/event/commencement/.

Graduates and their families are encouraged to share photos and posts on social media and to tag them with #CMUgrad. Posts will appear on the webcast page and some will be featured on the screens at the stadium.

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