Drexel University Restarts a Decades-Long Alumni Commencement Tradition
As announced last month, Drexel University alumnus and Olympic gold medalist Justin Best, business and engineering ’19, will address the Class of 2025 at this year’s University-wide commencement ceremony. And while he is the first alumnus to do so since the University brought back that ceremony in 2016, he will be joining a special tier of Drexel alumni who have spoken to large cohorts of new Drexel graduates.
This year will be Drexel’s 138th Commencement, and close to two dozen alumni have spoken at a ceremony over the past eight decades. Depending on the type of graduation ceremony Drexel held at the time, they usually either addressed everyone at one large ceremony, or spoke at a ceremony with multiple colleges and schools; today, the University holds one ceremony for everyone, and each college and school hosts their own event as well.
Most alumni received an honorary degree at the event. They span decades and disciplines — though two of them were NASA astronauts. Many have supported their alma mater through philanthropy and service on various Drexel leadership boards, including the Board of Trustees. You might recognize their names from Drexel buildings, colleges and schools, and you might have used their inventions or seen their achievements that have impacted American culture and society. And many of these distinguished speakers are part of the Drexel 100, the University’s alumni hall of fame.
So, who are these Dragons?
H.P. Liversidge
The 1947 graduation speaker was Horace P. “H.P.” Liversidge, who was president of the Philadelphia Electric Company (today’s PECO) at the time. He received a diploma in mechanic arts in 1897; the then-Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry didn’t offer degrees until 1917. Liversidge pursued post-graduate studies in electrical engineering at Drexel from 1897–1898 and later received an honorary degree in 1943.
He was the first alumnus to be elected to the Drexel Institute’s Board of Trustees (joining in 1922 and serving for 33 years) and the first to be named chair of Drexel’s Board of Trustees. Until that point, the chair had been family members and friends of the University’s founder, Anthony J. Drexel, who himself was the first chair. Liversidge was elected chair in 1954 and died in 1955. He had worked at the Philadelphia Electric Company for 57 years, starting in 1898 as a wiring inspector when it was the Edison Electric Light Company.
Carl Dranoff
One of the 1986 speakers was Carl E. Dranoff, BS civil engineering ’70, HD ’86, who had been president and chief executive officer of the Historic Landmarks for Living development firm. He is the president and CEO of his own firm, Dranoff Properties.
James Bagian
One of two 1987 alumni speakers was James Bagian, BS mechanical engineering ’73, HD ’87, whose uncles and cousin are also alumni. Bagian had been named a NASA astronaut in 1981 and would go on to log over 331 hours in space through two different space flights in 1989 and 1991. On his first trip, he carried a Drexel medallion into space that is now in the Drexel Founding Collection, the University’s art collection. Baigan is now a professor of engineering practice and executive director of the Center for Risk Analysis Informed Decision Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Nicholas DeBenedictis
Nicholas DeBenedictis, then-president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, was the other alumnus who spoke at a commencement ceremony in 1987. DeBenedictis received a BS in commerce and engineering in 1968 and a MS in environmental engineering in 1969, and an honorary degree in 1987. He is the non-executive chairman of the board of Aqua America, previously serving as chairman and CEO from 1993 to 2015.
Paul Baran
One of the 1997 speakers was Paul Baran, BS electrical engineering ’49, HD ’97, who is credited with helping to develop packet-switching technology used to lay the foundation of the Internet. At the time of the ceremony, Baran was chairman of the board of COM21 Incorporated, a public company he co-founded to develop cable modem networks. He died in 2011.
Bennett S. LeBow
Drexel’s 1998 Commencement was the first to be webcast, and one of its speakers was Bennett S. LeBow, BS electrical engineering ’60, HD ’98. He was chairman and chief executive officer of Brooke Group, Ltd., a publicly held diversified holding company, and is now chairman of the board of Vector Group, Ltd. At that time, LeBow had endowed the Bennett S. LeBow Engineering Center housing the College of Engineering; the next year, he would gift $10 million (the largest University gift at the time) to create today’s Bennett S. LeBow College of Business, and in 2010 he committed $45 million for the construction of Gerri C. LeBow Hall, which opened in 2015 to house the college and is named after his late wife.
George Ross
One of the 1999 speakers was George M. Ross, BS ’55, HD ’99, who by then had retired as a general partner of the Goldman Sachs investment banking firm he had worked at for more than 30 years. He also was a civic-minded leader, raising over $150 million to start today’s Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and serving on the boards of a variety of local organizations. He and his wife Lyn made a leadership gift to restore Drexel’s Ross Commons, which was dedicated in 2003. He died in 2011.
George Campbell Jr.
George W. Campbell, Jr., PhD, who earned a BS in physics in 1968, spoke at a 2000 ceremony and received an honorary degree. At the time, he had just been named the president of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, a position he held until 2011.
Chuck Barris
Charles H. "Chuck" Barris, business administration ’53, HD ’01, created hit game shows like “The Gong Show,” “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game” and revolutionized the entertainment industry and pop culture of the ‘60s and ‘70s. He was one of two alumni speakers and honorary degree recipients who spoke at the 2001 commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences, Richard C. Goodwin College of Evening and Professional Studies, Department of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts, College of Media Arts & Design and School of Education. He died in 2017.
Sandra Schultz Newman
The Honorable Sandra Schultz Newman, BS ’59, HD ’01, was the other 2001 alumni speaker. She is the first woman ever elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, serving from 1995 until her retirement in 2006.
Antoinette and Ray Westphal
Antoinette P. Westphal, home economics ’59 and HD ’02, and Rainer J. “Ray” Westphal, business administration ’59 and HD ’02, founded Vertex, Inc., a leading producer of tax-compliant software and research. They spoke at one of Drexel’s ceremonies in 2002 for the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business and College of Information Science and Technology. After Antoinette died in 2004, Ray made arrangements for Drexel’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design to be named in her honor. He died in 2023.
Henry I. Boreen
Henry I. Boreen (BS electrical engineering ’56, MS electrical engineering ’58, HD ’02) spoke at the 2002 ceremony for College of Engineering, School of Environmental Science, Engineering and Policy and School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. He was an assistant professor in the University’s Evening School after his second Drexel graduation, and at the time was chairman of the board of Combex, Inc., a developer of secure computing systems. He died in 2014.
Robert Byers
Robert L. Byers, BS business administration ’65, HD ’02, spoke at that same ceremony, during which he received an honorary degree along with his wife Joyce F. Byers, home economics ’63, HD ’02. They cofounded Byers Choice Ltd., which produces handcrafted Christmas “Caroler” figures and accessories. He died in 2020.
Richard C. Goodwin
Richard C. Goodwin, BS commerce and engineering ’48, HD ’04, was chairman of the family construction business, Goodwin Enterprises, and a humanitarian and philanthropist whose Goodwin Foundation supported more than 100 organizations and institutions. In 2001, the Goodwin College of Professional Studies was named in his honor, and he spoke at the college’s 2004 ceremony — the only alumnus to address graduates of a school named after him. He died in 2022.
John J. Roberts
John J. Roberts '67, HD ’05, had retired as global managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2002 after a 35-year career at the company by the time he spoke at a 2005 ceremony.
Wilma Bulkin Siegel
Wilma Bulkin Siegel, MD WMC ’62, HD ’06, was a graduate of Woman’s Medical College (WMC), a predecessor institution of the Drexel University College of Medicine. She is a retired oncologist and pioneer in hospice care and watercolor artist. She spoke at a 2006 ceremony.
Edmund D. Bossone
One of the 2007 speakers was Edmund D. Bossone, BS mechanical engineering ’48 ’53, HD ’07, spent his entire career as an engineer at PECO. He and his wife dedicated the I. M. Pei-designed Bossone Research Center on the University City Campus. He died in 2013.
Chris Ferguson
Christopher J. Ferguson, BS mechanical engineering ’84, HD ’09, is a NASA astronaut who spent 40 days in space on three separate NASA missions in 2006, 2008 and later in 2011, when he commanded the last mission of the space shuttle program. He retired from his position as a Boeing commercial astronaut in 2023.
Malik Rose
Malik Rose (BS teacher education ’96, MS sports management ’11, HD ’09) led Drexel’s men’s basketball team to three conference championships and NCAA appearances, later becoming the first Drexel player drafted in the NBA. He played 13 seasons in the NBA, winning two NBA Championships; now he is the head of basketball operations for the NBA G League.
Richard Woodring
Richard E. Woodring, BS civil engineering ’54, HD ’10, joined the Drexel faculty as an instructor in 1956 and influenced generations of engineers and students as a professor, dean of engineering and vice president of student life. In 2010, he spoke at the ceremony for the College of Engineering (of course) and School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. Drexel named the Richard Woodring Labs and Endowed Professorship in his name. He died in 2025.
Wayne Gattinella
Wayne T. Gattinella, retail management ’76, HD ’12, was formerly the president and chief executive officer of WebMD Health when he addressed graduates at a 2012 ceremony. He currently is the CEO of DeBogy Molecular.
Marc Vetri
Marc Vetri, BS marketing ’90, HD ’13, is a James Beard Award-winning local chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and philanthropist. He spoke at one of the 2013 ceremonies.
Justin Best
Justin Best, BS business and engineering ’19, two-time Olympian, Olympic gold medalist, and investment banker. He finished in fourth place as a member of the men’s eight at the 2020 Summer Olympics and achieved a historic victory in the men’s four at the 2024 Summer Games, winning Team USA's first gold medal in men’s rowing in 64 years. He will address graduates at the 2025 University-wide commencement ceremony.