Glenn Cummings, President of University of Southern Maine Will be one of Two Keynote Speakers at the May 7th Graduation at Cross Insurance Arena, Portland.

The University of Southern Maine will return to an in-person commencement when it convenes its 142 commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 7th at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.  It is scheduled for 9:00 am according to a press release  issued by USM today.  This will be the first in-person commencement ceremony since the start of the pandemic. celebrations in 2020 and 2021 were held virtually.

More than 900 students are expected to participate before a predicted crowd of 7,000 family and friends.  The ceremony will be held in compliance with all Maine CDC rules and in keeping with the policies of the Cross Insurance Arena.

Cummings, who last fall announced his plan to leave USM on June 30 to serve as CEO of the Glickman Family Foundation and the Judy Glickman Lauder Foundation, will be one of two principal speakers at the event.  He will share the stage with Dr. Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine CDC., who will also speak.  Honorary degrees will be conferred upon Dr. Shah, poet Betsy Sholl and philonthropost Dan Crewe, head of the Bob Crew Foundation and president of the ACLU of Maine.

“Commencement at USM is always a unique occasion to celebrate the accomplishments of students who have worked so hard, often overcoming extraordinay challenges,” USM President Glenn Cummings said.  “Their optimism and excitement make it my favorite day of the year.  We tried to do our best to celebrate virtually in 2020 and 2021, working around the necessary health restrictions brought on by the worldwide pandemic.  I am deeply grateful that we can again celebrate together, as a USM community.”