HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University President Brad Smith announced Tuesday that the President and CEO of NIKE and longtime business leader John Donahoe will be the keynote speaker for Marshall’s Spring 2023 commencement ceremony.
Smith said that Donahoe is a great fit to speak at graduation due to all of his business and leadership success.
“John is truly a titan of industry a visionary who understands what it means to bring purpose to life, Smith said. His business acumen is top tier, and his daily actions at Nike show he genuinely cares for people, the planet and community success.”
After graduating from Dartmouth College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Donahoe began his career at Bain & Company. Eventually he became the firm’s president and CEO in 1999.
Donahoe later became a leader of ServiceNow and eBay before being chosen as the leader of NIKE in January of 2020 after working for the company since 2014.
He is now responsible for the company’s continued growth in its global brands, which not only includes NIKE but Jordan and Converse, as well.
To accommodate all of the graduates and their families, Marshall will hold two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, April 29 at Mountain Health Arena. Donahoe will speak at both ceremonies.
The first ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. and will include undergraduates and graduate students in the College of Business, Education and Professional Development, Doctor of Education, College of Science, College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice and Management, Biomedical Research and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The second ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. for undergraduate and graduates in the College of Health Professions, College of Arts and Media, College of Liberal Arts, Regents Bachelor of Arts, and Doctor of Physical Therapy.
(Photos courtesy Marshall University)