Fairfield Announces 2025 Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients
Chairman of Special Olympics Timothy Shriver, PhD, will address Fairfield University’s undergraduate Class of 2025. Cathy E. Minehan, former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, will serve as graduate Commencement speaker
Fairfield University will celebrate its 75th Commencement Ceremonies on May 17 and 18. Graduate exercises will take place on Saturday, May 17 in the Leo D. Mahoney Arena, followed by undergraduate exercises on Sunday, May 18 on Bellarmine Lawn. The inaugural cohort of the Fairfield Bellarmine Class of 2025 will be honored with associate’s degrees during Commencement exercises on Thursday, May 15 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.
Timothy Shriver, PhD, chairman of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, will deliver the undergraduate Commencement address at Fairfield University’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony. In recognition of his leadership in advancing global education, inclusion, and human dignity, Shriver will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
As leader of Special Olympics, Shriver has supported more than six million athletes worldwide, promoting health, unity, and equal opportunities for individuals of all abilities. Under his leadership, Special Olympics has grown significantly, positively impacting lives through the power of sport.
A leading advocate for social and emotional learning, Shriver co-founded the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), revolutionizing the integration of emotional learning in schools. He also co-chairs the National Commission on Social and Emotional Learning, serves as president of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Shriver co-founded Lovin’ Spoonful Ice Cream to support the mission of Special Olympics. His work, including four films and the New York Times bestselling book Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most, has sparked global conversations about empathy, human dignity, and social change. He exemplifies the Jesuit value of “radical hospitality” by advocating for inclusion and the worth of every individual, regardless of ability.
Shriver earned his undergraduate degree from Yale, a master’s degree from Catholic University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Connecticut.
Rev. John F. Baldovin, S.J., a distinguished professor of liturgical theology at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry, and a former longtime member of Fairfield’s Board of Trustees, will also receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. A renowned scholar, liturgist, and pastor, Fr. Baldovin’s contributions to theological education and the Church have resonated worldwide.
His academic and pastoral career spans decades, during which he has earned recognition for his expertise in liturgical theology, and his influence on the Catholic Church’s understanding and practice of liturgy. His writings have been published in prominent journals and translated into multiple languages, contributing to the global conversation on liturgical practice and reform.
In addition to his scholarly achievements, Fr. Baldovin has served as a teacher and mentor at several prestigious institutions, including Fordham University, the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, and the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Fr. Baldovin’s deep commitment to the Church is also reflected in his advisory roles, such as his service on the advisory committee for the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL).
A member of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Baldovin has also served in various pastoral roles, assisting in parishes in the Boston area. His dedication to the Jesuit ideals of service, education, and social justice has inspired countless students, colleagues, and members of the broader Church community.
Cathy E. Minehan has been selected as the graduate Commencement speaker for Fairfield’s Class of 2025. A distinguished leader in finance, higher education, and public service, Minehan has dedicated her career to leadership in economic stability, corporate governance, and advancing opportunities for all. From 1994 to 2007, she served as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, playing a pivotal role in national economic policy and financial stability. As a key member of the Federal Open Market Committee, she guided the country’s financial system through periods of both expansion and challenge.
In addition to her leadership at the Federal Reserve, Minehan has served on numerous boards, including those of Massachusetts General Hospital, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the Brookings Institution, Visa, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
After her tenure at the Federal Reserve, Minehan turned her focus to higher education, serving as dean of the School of Management at Simmons College from 2011 to 2016. She championed innovative educational models, such as a pioneering MBA program for women, and worked to make business education more accessible and relevant in an evolving global economy. Her commitment to education extends to her longtime support of Fairfield University, along with her late husband, Dr. E. Gerald Corrigan, who helped establish the E. Gerald Corrigan Chair in Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Corrigan & Zedillo Scholars program.
In recognition of her exemplary leadership and lifelong commitment to public service, Fairfield University will proudly present Cathy E. Minehan with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Fairfield University will also recognize alumna Robin Bennett Kanarek ’96, with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Kanarek’s advocacy, scholarship, and philanthropy have advanced the field of palliative care nationwide. A proud graduate of Fairfield’s Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies, she has dedicated her life to ensuring that individuals facing serious illness receive compassionate, holistic care.
In 2006, she and her husband, Joseph, founded the Kanarek Family Foundation in memory of their son, David, who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
The Kanarek Family Foundation has been a leader in integrating palliative care into healthcare systems, focusing on education, awareness, and patient-centered support. In 2023, it funded Connecticut’s first Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition, where Kanarek serves as sustainability coordinator. The foundation also collaborates with institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Yale, and The George Washington University Institute for Spirituality and Health, driving both national and international dialogue on palliative care.
A dedicated supporter of Fairfield University, she serves on the University’s Board of Trustees and chairs the Kanarek Center for Palliative Care, established in 2017 through her foundation. Kanarek also chairs the advisory board for the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, founded by her parents, Carl and Dorothy Bennett, in 1994.
Her leadership extends to board service at Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Hospital Foundation, and Connecticut Hospice, and she is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in London.
Kanarek is the author of Living Well with a Serious Illness (Johns Hopkins University Press), which offers guidance to families facing serious illness.
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