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Past Commencement Speakers

Part of the history of Menlo College...

A photo exhibition in the President’s Conference Room in the Administration Building pays tribute to some of the global leaders who have been honored at Menlo College commencement ceremonies over the past fifteen years. Each one of them has touched our community with personal stories of challenge, persistence, and innovation in both the public and private sectors. Collectively, these individuals have underscored the importance of helping others through contributions to business, philanthropy, and many other endeavors. They have proven the value of giving back by their positive impact across the globe.

It is a fitting occasion for Menlo College graduates to be inspired by the wisdom of such stellar role models as they begin their careers in the world of business. As President John F. Kennedy said, “True leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.”

Commencement Speakers: 1995–2025

1995Sidney HarrisMenlo College trustee; Dean of the Peter F. Drucker Management Center – Claremont Graduate School
1996Anna EshooRepresentative, California’s 14th Congressional District
1997Adam WerbachPresident, Sierra Club
1998Marc MaurerPresident, National Federation of the Blind
1999John Henry Felix
Menlo College trustee; alumnus; Vice Chair of the Honolulu City Council
2000Earle Chiles ‘57
Earle Chiles Foundation
2000R. Eugene BalesFaculty, Philosophy and Music, Menlo College
2001Jackie SpeierCongresswoman, California District 14
2002Carol BartzCEO, Autodesk, Inc.
2003Charles “Chuck” SmithCEO, SBC West
2004Gavin Newsom
Mayor of San Francisco
2005Richard PomboCongressman, California District 11
2006Rebecca CohnAssemblymember, California District 24
2007Russell FrankelPresident, Frankel Family Foundation
2007T.J. RodgersFounder & CEO, Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
2008Richard LiChairman, PCCW Limited
2009Khaled JuffaliManaging Partner & Vice Chairman, E.A. Juffali & Brothers Co.
2009Steve WestlyFounder of The Westly Group, former Controller & CFO, California
2010Jane ShawChairman of the Board, Intel Corporation
2010Robert (Bob) Lurie ‘46,Chairman of the Board, the Lurie Company
2011Alan SalzmanCo-Founder & CEO, VantagePoint Capital Partners
2012Guy KawasakiAuthor & Entrepreneur
2012K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr.Founder, Titans/Oilers
2013Jed YorkCEO, San Francisco 49ers
2014Anna EshooCongresswoman, California District 18
2014John Pritzker ’76Founder, Geolo Capital
2014Bernard OsherFounder, the Bernard Osher Foundation
2015Michael Weatherly ’88Actor (Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo in NCIS)
2015Mark TempletonPresident & CEO, Citrix
2016L. Gregory BallardSenior Vice President of Social Mobile and Emerging Platforms, Warner Brothers
2016Noviolet BulawayoAuthor, We Need New Names (Menlo College 2016 Freshman Year Book)
2017Jarl MohnPresident and CEO of NPR
2018Mar HershensonCo-founder, Pear Ventures
2019Yasunobu KyogokuFounding Partner, Innovation Global Capital
2020Mary BittermanPresident, Bernard Osher Foundation
2021Maya Soetoro-NgCo-founder of Ceeds of Peace (and half-sister of Barack Obama)
2022Mark Speckman ’74Menlo Athletics Hall of Fame Member, Nationally-Recognized Football Coach
2023Victor NunnemakerEntrepreneur and Philanthropist
2024Ian SimmonsEntrepreneur and Philanthropist
2025Simone StolzoffAuthor, Writer, Journalist