Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington will speak and receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at Marymount University’s Undergraduate Commencement at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 20 at DAR Constitution Hall.
Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will address degree recipients at Marymount’s Graduate Commencement at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 at DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D Street NW, Washington, D.C. An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters will be conferred on Joseph Maurelli, former chairman of Marymount’s board of trustees. In addition to the day’s celebrations, the University will hold Recognition Day, which will include a Commencement Mass, awards ceremony and a reception.
The Most Reverend Burbidge was installed Dec. 6, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Before that he served as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh for a decade. In 2002 he was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, where he oversaw the Office of the Vicar for Clergy and the Office of Communications. He also served as administrative secretary to Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, archbishop of Philadelphia.
His first priestly assignment was as parochial vicar of St. Bernard Church in his native Philadelphia. He was later on the faculties of Cardinal O’Hara High School, Archbishop Wood High School and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, where he also served as dean of students and rector.
Bishop Burbidge holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in theology from St. Charles Borromeo, a master’s in education administration from Villanova University, and a doctorate in education from Immaculata College.
Donohue has been president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce since 1997. Previously, he served for 13 years as president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, the national organization of the trucking industry. Earlier in his career, he was deputy assistant postmaster general of the United States and vice president of development at Fairfield University in Connecticut.
The native New Yorker earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and a master’s degree in business administration from Adelphi University.
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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.
Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
