Commencement Speaker
Anne Thompson
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Anne Thompson is a journalist at NBC News, serving as Chief Environmental Affairs Correspondent since 2007. Her stories appear on the Today Show, NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas, and NBC News Now. She first joined NBC News in 1997 as a national correspondent. Throughout her acclaimed career, Thompson has covered a wide variety of topics: global warming and new green technologies, presidential campaigns, the Vatican—including the election and papacy of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV—and financial and economic news. Her work has been honored with over a dozen national and regional Emmys. In 2004, she was awarded the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for distinguished business and financial journalism for a series of reports on the jobless economic recovery. She was also part of the team that won the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Journalism Award for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Thompson began her broadcasting career at WNDU-TV in South Bend as a general assignment reporter. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and has been on the University’s Board of Trustees since 2010. In 2019, Thompson received the Rev. Edward Fredrick Sorin, C.S.C., Award in recognition of her contributions to the Notre Dame community and beyond. This is one of the University’s highest honors.
Honorary Degree Recipient
Jennifer Holmgren, PhD
Doctor of Science
Saint Mary’s will also present an honorary Doctor of Science to Dr. Jennifer Holmgren. Holmgren is the chairman and CEO of the revolutionary carbon-recycling company, LanzaTech. Under Holmgren’s leadership, LanzaTech has developed a variety of platform chemicals and fuels, including the world’s first alternative jet fuel derived from industrial waste gases. Prior to LanzaTech, Holmgren was the founding VP and General Manager of the Renewable Energy and Chemicals business unit at UOP, LLC, a Honeywell company, where she was a key driver of their leadership in low carbon aviation biofuels. Holmgren has authored or co-authored 50 US patents and more than 30 scientific publications, and she is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. She serves on several boards and advisory councils, and her impact has been widely recognized with honors such as the Edison Achievement Award for significant and lasting contributions to the world of innovation, the William C. Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Advanced Bioeconomy from Biofuels Digest, and the Presidential Green Chemistry Award from the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2023, she was named one of Time magazine’s TIME100 list of Most Influential Climate Leaders. Holmgren earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Harvey Mudd College, her PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Presidential Medal Recipients
Carmi and Chris Murphy
President's Medal
President Conboy will also confer the President’s Medal on Carmi and Chris Murphy. The President’s Medal is presented rarely and exclusively to those who have offered exceptional contributions to the life of the College and society. Carmi and Chris Murphy have dedicated their lives to being generous and positive influences who make a long-lasting impact for the greater good. They have been steadfast supporters of Saint Mary’s College for decades, including funding the Murphy Faculty Award for Senior Comprehensive Mentorship and Murphy’s Cafe in Angela Athletic and Wellness Complex. Carmi faithfully served on the Board of Trustees for a total of 15 years during two different terms. She also lent her expertise and leadership to several College initiatives, including the Presidential Search Committee in 2003, the Down the Avenue Steering Committee for six years, and the steering committee for the College’s previous comprehensive campaign for seven years. During that time, Carmi and Chris graciously hosted campaign events and attended numerous campaign-related events for Saint Mary’s. The College honored Carmi for her countless contributions to the institution, making her an honorary alumna, Class of 2011. She continues a family legacy: her mother, Ernestine Morris Raclin, was a member of the Down the Avenue Steering Committee and Honorary Chair in 2013 and an honorary degree recipient. Her aunt Mary Lou Leighton was an honorary alumna and a recipient of both an honorary degree and the President’s Medal. Carmi is currently a member of the President’s Circle, an advisory board to the President. Carmi and Chris are also deeply involved in the South Bend community, and were inducted into the South Bend Community Hall of Fame in 2013. Both have served on numerous local and state boards, and are actively involved in Chris’ alma mater, the University of Notre Dame. Last year, in recognition of their contributions to the University and their service to the community, they received the Rev. Edward Frederick Sorin, C.S.C., Award, one of the University’s highest honors.