This year’s commencement speakers will be Dr. Elliott Bedford and Sister Margaret Carney.
SFU’s 175th commencement exercises will take place in the Stokes Center on May 9-10.
The School of Health Sciences and Education undergraduate and graduate ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 9, with Bedford, who serves as the Director of Ethics Integration at Ascension St. Vincent Health, delivering the commencement speech.
“He will have a good pro-life message,” said University President Father Malachi Van Tassell. “It’s a message of hope and encouragement for our grads.”
An expert on healthcare ethics, Bedford blends his Catholic beliefs into his work at one of the country’s largest non-profit, Catholic healthcare systems.
“He’s been in that field for many years—he will have a great message for the healthcare graduates,” said Father Malachi. “He’s a good mission fit for us.”
Sister Carney will speak at the School of STEAM, the Shields School of Business and the Division of Professional Studies graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 10.
“She spoke to our faculty and staff here on campus three years ago,” said Father Malachi, “and she was very well received.”
Sister Carney is a Franciscan scholar and member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Neumann Communities.
“She’s an amazing speaker,” said SFU’s president.
“She’ll have a Franciscan-oriented message for the graduates.”
Sister Carney served as the minister general of her religious order for six years and was president at St. Bonaventure University for 12 years.
“I’d like our graduates to take away that they can go be light to the world,” said Father Malachi.
“They can bring light to darkness.”
