Senator Patrick and Marcelle Leahy in 2022. VermontBiz photo.
Marcelle Leahy and Lynn Dohm to address graduates and receive Honorary Degrees
Vermont Business Magazine Marcelle Leahy, registered nurse and humanitarian, will address Champlain College on-campus undergraduates, and Lynn Dohm, Executive Director of Women in CyberSecurity (WiCys), will address Champlain College Online undergraduate and graduate students during commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11. In addition to addressing students during the ceremonies, Leahy and Dohm will receive honorary degrees, as will former Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vermont).
Commencement exercises will kick off at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction at 10 AM for on-campus undergraduate students and 3:00 PM for Champlain College Online students receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees.
“Commencement is not just a ceremony; it's a testament to the resilience and achievements of our graduates,” said Champlain College President Alex Hernandez. “These graduates have dedicated themselves to being Champlain Ready: Ready for work, ready for life, and ready to make a difference. We are thrilled to welcome Marcelle Leahy and Lynn Dohm, who will share stories of their perseverance and dedication, showing our graduates what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world and build a better future for all.”
Marcelle Leahy will speak to the on-campus undergraduate community and will be joined by her husband, former Senator Patrick J. Leahy in receiving a Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa. Marcelle Leahy is a registered nurse who served medical organizations in Vermont and across the nation. She has held board positions for the Vermont Nursing Initiatives and the Visiting Nurses Association among others, and currently serves on the board of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation.
As a melanoma survivor, Marcelle Leahy has long been recognized for her commitment to promoting the early detection of skin cancer. She has spent her life advocating for Vermonters alongside former Senator Patrick J. Leahy, championing initiatives to improve access to healthcare, economic opportunity, justice, and equal rights and has been applauded for her ability to bring people together across political boundaries.
Lynn Dohm will address the Champlain College Online undergraduate and graduate students and receive a Doctor of Science & Technology, Honoris Causa. Under Dohm’s leadership, WiCyS was established as a leading model of how a collaborative, multi-organizational approach can strengthen the cybersecurity workforce. Dohm has been recognized for her expertise and commitment to improving accessibility and opportunities in cybersecurity, enhancing the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the field.
Dohm has an extensive background in cybersecurity workforce enterprises and has held various roles in the field. She actively participates in grant-funding programs and nonprofits that aim to bridge critical cybersecurity workforce shortages. Before her involvement with WiCyS, Dohm was instrumental in launching the Community College Cyber Summit. She has also worked in various roles with the National CyberSecurity Training & Education Center, the Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance, and Cybersecurity Competition Federation among others.
In addition to the honorary degree recipients, student speakers will address their fellow graduates in each of the two ceremonies. Annabel Kusnitz, representing on-campus undergraduate students, is graduating with a Professional Writing degree and is originally from Woodbridge, Connecticut.
Selebika Saniyo will represent Champlain College Online and is completing his MS in Information Security. Selebika is from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
For more information about Champlain College’s 2024 Commencement ceremonies, visit commencement.champlain.edu. In addition to the in-person ceremony, the College will provide an online livestream for both ceremonies on this website.
About Champlain College: Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain offers a traditional undergraduate experience from its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain and more than 90 residential undergraduate and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. Champlain’s distinctive career-driven approach to higher education embodies the notion that true learning occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain ranks in multiple categories of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges;” is included in The Princeton Review’s 2024 list of “The Best 389 Colleges;” was named a 2023-2024 College of Distinction for Education, Business and Career Development; and was awarded one of America’s Best Colleges by Money for combining quality and affordability. www.champlain.edu
About Champlain College Online: A leader in online higher education for more than 30 years, Champlain College Online provides an active and applied academic experience through 100+ acclaimed undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs in business, cybersecurity, gaming, healthcare, marketing, technology and liberal arts. Champlain College is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and is nationally recognized for its high-quality, career-focused online degree programs, ranked as one of the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report. Champlain’s 2,000+ online students can be found in all 50 states and across the globe. online.champlain.edu
Source: 4.24.24. Burlington, VT (April 24, 2024) — Champlain College