Maria Rodale to speak at DelVal’s Commencement

Delaware Valley University is pleased to announce that Maria Rodale, CEO and Chair of Rodale, Inc., will deliver the Commencement address on Saturday, May 13 at 10:30 a.m. Commencement will be held on the Quad.

“DelVal has been incredibly fortunate to have Rodale Institute as a partner in our Organic Farming Program,” said Dr. Benjamin Rusiloski, interim vice president for academic affairs. “Maria Rodale is someone who is using her life to educate the public about important topics such as sustainable food production. She’s a perfect fit to address our graduating class. As they prepare to leave DelVal, I hope her speech will inspire them to follow in her footsteps and use their lives to improve the world.”

Rodale, Inc. is a global health and wellness content company. Rodale, a third generation Rodale to take the reins of this impactful family business headquartered in rural Emmaus, Pennsylvania, oversees a global business with hundreds of  employees and partners around the world in 70 countries. Some of Rodale’s titles include Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Prevention magazine, and books such as "An Inconvenient Truth," "South Beach Diet" and "Thug Kitchen." 

Over the years, Rodale has been recognized for her work by major organizations. These include the National Audubon Society and the United Nations Population Fund. She is co-chair of the board at the Rodale Institute, a completely independent nonprofit working farm that conducts agricultural research, and she sits on the board of the Economic and Community Advisory Council, and the Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH) Advisory Board. Rodale continues to pursue her passions to grow Rodale’s business and lead Rodale into a diverse and digital future, while being a voice for organic food, healthy families and the power of love to heal people and the planet.

DelVal will award Rodale will an honorary degree at the ceremony. She will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters. The University will also grant Larry Hepner ’74 the title of professor emeritus. Hepner earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy and environmental science from DelVal and returned to his alma mater as a faculty member. Hepner became a department chair for agronomy and environmental science. He is being recognized for his years of dedicated service to DelVal’s students and community. Hepner is a past recipient of the Alumni Award in Plant Science and the Alumni Association’s Centennial Award. 

For more information on Commencement, please visit: delval.edu/commencement.