Lutheran Bishop, Trustee, educators, graduates in the spotlight at Thiel Commencement

GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College will celebrate the academic accomplishments of the Class of 2025 and recognize several distinguished individuals during its annual Commencement Exercises at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center.

The College will confer degrees upon 174 graduates, including 12 students receiving Master of Business Administration degrees.

Two alumni will be awarded honorary degrees for their professional achievements and service to the College.

• The Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow ’85, bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will deliver the keynote address and receive an honorary degree. Kusserow has served as bishop since 2007 and was re-elected in 2019. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Thiel College and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. His ministry has included both domestic and international service.
• G. Leah Dever ’74, a retired associate director for the U.S. Department of Energy, will be recognized for her decades of federal service and continued contributions to the Thiel community, including her tenure on the Board of Trustees. She is also a recipient of the College’s Service to Thiel Award.

Three longtime faculty members will be awarded emerita status:

• Fatimata Pale, Ph.D., professor of biology, joined the faculty in 1998 and is recognized for her commitment to student learning and research in the biological sciences. She is retiring this year.
• Nancy Antonino, Ph.D., lecturer and former coordinator of the Communication Sciences and Disorders program, served the College for more than 30 years. She was instrumental in developing the CSD program and retired in 2024.
• Mary Reames, former lecturer in education, will also be granted emerita status. A retired educator from the Jamestown Area School District, Reames received the Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award in 2022. Reames retired from the College in 2019.

This year’s Commencement marks the first time in recent history the ceremony will be held on a Saturday.

Related Links

• 151st Commencement Exercises
• Academic Affairs

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About Thiel College

Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.