As president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) — a leading national association that advances the quality and equity of liberal education in service to democracy — Lynn Pasquerella fully appreciates the achievements of the Mary Baldwin University graduates she will address May 20. Pasquerella is set to give the keynote at MBU’s 176th Commencement exercises.
“I am truly honored to be addressing the graduates of the class of 2018 at Mary Baldwin,” Pasquerella said. “The university’s commitment to liberal education as the foundation for empowering tomorrow’s leaders to pursue lives of purpose is more critical than ever, and I look forward to celebrating the many ways in which MBU has positioned each of its graduates to thrive in work, citizenship, and life.”
In addition to her position as president of the AAC&U, she is a philosopher, teacher, scholar, and champion of local and global engagement. Her guiding principle is to ensure that all students can access an excellent education, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
After graduation from Quinebaug Valley Community College, Mount Holyoke College, and Brown University, Pasquerella started her career in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Rhode Island. She then became provost at the University of Hartford and, in 2010, president of Mount Holyoke College.
She sits on the advisory board of the Newman’s Own Foundation and on the boards of the Lingnan Foundation and the National Humanities Alliance. She also serves as senator and vice president of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.