March 19, 2015
La Roche College Announces 50th Commencement Speaker
PITTSBURGH, March 19, 2015 – La Roche University alumna Christine J. Spadafor will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters and deliver the commencement address at La Roche’s 50th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9.
“Ms. Spadafor is an exemplary role model for our students and graduates. With her distinguished career in healthcare, business and not-for-profit organizations, she is a dynamic individual and wonderful representative of La Roche University,” President Sister Candace Introcaso, CDP, Ph.D., said. “Ms. Spadafor is most deserving of our recognition, and we are pleased to present her with an honorary degree.”
Christine Spadafor is president of the SpadaforClay Group — a strategic management consultancy she established after earning partnership status in The Boston Consulting Group and other international management consulting firms. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Ms. Spadafor practiced Family Law and represented the interests of at-risk children. She blended her legal and medical educations (Ms. Spadafor also is a registered nurse) by serving in the healthcare sector as a pediatric hospital general counsel, a management consultant, and a CEO. After earning a master’s degree at the Harvard School of Public Health, Ms. Spadafor co-authored “Monitoring the Worker for Exposure and Disease: Scientific, Legal and Ethical Considerations in the Use of Biomarkers” (John Hopkins University Press). Later, she served as an advisor on environmental and maternal health issues for the United Nations in China.
In 2008 the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association named Christine Spadafor as one of the top 20 U.S. female attorneys with exceptional business expertise. An experienced advisor in both organizational strategy and board governance, Ms. Spadafor serves on the board of directors of Boyd Gaming Corporation, a NYSE publicly traded company.
For nearly ten years, Ms. Spadafor served as chief executive officer of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, a nonprofit serving abused, abandoned and homeless children. In this capacity, she designed and implemented financial and operational innovations that markedly improved the lives of severely disadvantaged youth. A “best practices” case study based on the nonprofit’s stunning turnaround and exceptional growth now is part of the MBA curriculum at the globally recognized Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. At Tuck Ms. Spadafor participates as Visiting Executive faculty — lecturing in both the “Entrepreneurship in the Social Sector” and “Strategic Leadership” programs.
In 2014 Ms. Spadafor became a member of La Roche’s Distinguished Alumni Circle, established in conjunction with the University’s 50th anniversary to honor graduates for their outstanding professional success and significant dedication to community service.
For more information about La Roche University’s spring commencement ceremony, visit: laroche.edu/commencement
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate and five graduate degree programs, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,400 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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