Commencement Speakers
Patricia Walsh Chadwick P’16 to deliver 2026 undergraduate Commencement address
An Elon University trustee and accomplished Wall Street strategist, Patricia Walsh Chadwick P’16 will draw on a career in finance and a life of wide-ranging experiences to deliver the Commencement address to the Class of 2026 on May 22 in two ceremonies inside Schar Center.
Having carried the lessons of her professional success into new arenas of leadership and service, Chadwick brings a distinctly broad perspective to graduates embarking on their own journeys.
“Patricia Chadwick’s story is one of resilience, intellectual curiosity, courageous leadership and a commitment to lifting others as she climbs,” said Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book. “From the heights of global finance to the deeply personal work of storytelling and advocacy, she has used her experiences to build institutions, mentor emerging leaders and expand opportunities for communities in need. Ms. Chadwick is someone who understands that success is not defined by titles, but by impact.”
Chadwick’s 30-year career in the investment business included roles as a research analyst, a portfolio manager and a strategist. She eventually oversaw the institutional investment business for INVESCO as a Global Partner.
Katie Blunt ’15 to deliver 2026 graduate Commencement address
An Elon University alumna whose work with the Wall Street Journal was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist will deliver the Commencement address in May to graduate students in the Class of 2026.
Journalist and author Katherine Blunt ’15 will address candidates for the Master of Arts in Higher Education, Master of Education in Innovation, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Business Analytics and Master of Business Administration in an Alumni Gym evening ceremony on May 20.
“Katie Blunt embodies the very best of what an Elon education makes possible. Her outstanding reporting on some of the most complex and consequential issues of our time reflects a commitment to truth, rigor and public service that began right here on our campus,” said Elon President Connie Ledoux Book. “We are deeply proud of the way she uses her voice to inform the public, strengthen democracy and illuminate the forces shaping our future.”
Blunt is a Wall Street Journal reporter based in San Francisco who covers Google and how artificial intelligence is reshaping search, along with related stories such as the rapid data-center buildout and its implications for the power grid.