Katy Nesbitt, a Pitt alumna and the first American woman to referee at the World Cup, will be the commencement speaker and will receive an honorary degree at Pitt’s 2023 undergraduate ceremony at 1 p.m. April 30 at the Petersen Events Center.
Nesbitt received a graduate degree in chemistry in 2015 from Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Her postgraduate work involved researching analytical methods for chemical measurements in the brain. For most of her adult life, Nesbitt juggled her dueling passions of soccer and chemistry, but in 2019, she left her assistant professorship at Towson University in Maryland to officiate full-time.
She has refereed both men’s and women’s World Cup games and was the first woman named a Major League Soccer assistant referee of the year.
Pitt also will give two other honorary degrees during commencement season.
Victor Dzau, president of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, will receive an honorary Doctorate in Health Innovation at the School of Public Health ceremony on April 29. He is recognized for his research in cardiovascular medicine and genetics and his worldwide contributions to addressing health disparities. He is the first person of color and the first immigrant to lead any of the three academies that comprise the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
Chris Elias, president of the Global Development Division at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will receive an honorary Doctorate in Global Health at the School of Medicine's May 21 ceremony. Elias leads the foundation’s work to develop and implement innovative, integrated strategies that enable people in developing countries to overcome hunger, poverty and disease.
Regional campuses
Johnstown: 3 p.m. April 29 at Richland High School’s Herlinger Field.
Greensburg: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. April 29, Chambers Hall. A complete breakdown of majors at each ceremony can be found here.
Bradford: 2 p.m. April 30, McDowell Sport and Fitness Center. Bradford alumnus George Repchick ’82 will address the 2023 graduating class and receive the Presidential Medal of Distinction, Pitt-Bradford’s highest honor.
Other school ceremonies
Graduate and professional schools at Pitt hold individual recognition ceremonies throughout April and May. Many of the ceremonies are intended for specific audiences — for more information on attending, guest tickets, regalia and more, visit commencement.pitt.edu.
Here are this year’s celebrations, listed in chronological order.
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences: 11 a.m. April 27, Fitzgerald Field House. Mark Pastin (A&S, ’70), chair and president of the Council of Ethical Organizations, will speak at this ceremony for graduate-level candidates. Find Dietrich School celebrations by department.
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs: 1 p.m. April 27, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum. Sundaa Bridgett-Jones (GSPIA, ’95), vice president for the Americas and chief partnerships officer at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, will speak.
School of Pharmacy: 11 a.m. April 28, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum. The graduating student speakers at this ceremony will include Ryan Kasper, class of 2023 president, and Jessica Kosanovich.
Swanson School of Engineering: The Swanson School holds a graduation ceremony for each of its six departments as well as for its graduate-level candidates. Visit commencement.pitt.edu for more information.
Katz Graduate School of Business: 2 p.m. April 28, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Moussa Coulibaly (Katz, ’94), vice president of omni-channel pricing for Dick’s Sporting Goods, will speak.
School of Nursing: 3 p.m. April 28, David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Maribeth McLaughlin, chief nurse executive at UPMC, will speak.
School of Education: 6 p.m. April 27, Fitzgerald Field House. Wayne Walters, superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 29, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum. Al Condeluci (Social Work, ’75G, Education, ’84G), former CEO of the disability agency Community Living and Support Services and an expert on human services and community issues, will speak at the morning ceremony. Virginia Montanez, author of the forthcoming novel “Nothing. Everything.” and longtime Pittsburgh humor writer, will speak at the afternoon ceremony.
School of Public Health: 11 a.m. April 29, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Speaker: Chris Elias, president of the global development division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will give the address.
School of Computing and Information: 2 p.m. April 29, David Lawrence Hall, Room 121. Denise Callihan (SCI ’92G), manager of the R&D Library Shared Services team at PPG
School of Social Work: 5 p.m. April 30, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum. Kyaien Conner (Social Work, ’04G, ’08G), director of Pitt’s Center on Race and Social Problems
School of Law: 11 a.m. May 5, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum. The Honorable Mark R. Hornak (LAW ’81), chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
School of Dental Medicine: 1 p.m. May 20, Heinz Hall. The ceremony will feature faculty and student speakers, including Interim Dean Marnie Oakley; senior dental class president Zenas Zhuag, dental hygiene class president Skylar Rey Spencer and valedictorians from each program.
School of Medicine: 11 a.m. May 21, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum. Victor Dzau, inaugural president of the National Academy of Medicine, chancellor emeritus of Duke University and former CEO of the Duke Health System.
Special events
Lavender Graduation: 6 p.m. April 27, William Pitt Union Assembly Room. This annual ceremony celebrates the achievements of undergraduate, graduate,and professional students in the LGBTQIA+ community across all University of Pittsburgh campuses. Hosted by the Office of Inclusion and Belonging along with the Office for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion and Pitt Queer Professionals.
The Gathering: 7-10 p.m. April 29, William Pitt Union Assembly Room. A special graduation ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate graduating students of color has been rebranded this year as The Gathering. This event started in 2010 and was called Baccalaureate. This year the students in the Black Action Society said they wanted a graduating that was unique to their culture and The Gathering was created.