Western New England University (WNE) will welcome two accomplished leaders in public service and business as keynote speakers for its 2026 Commencement ceremonies.
Marty Walsh, Executive Director of the National Hockey League Players' Association and former U.S. Secretary of Labor, will return to campus to address undergraduate graduates, fulfilling a prior commitment to the University community.
Sheryl McQuade, Regional President of TD Bank’s New England Metro, will deliver the graduate Commencement address, bringing decades of leadership experience across the financial services industry.
Together, their perspectives reflect the University’s commitment to preparing graduates who are ready to lead, adapt, and make meaningful contributions across industries and communities.
Undergraduate Ceremony Speaker: Honorable Martin J. Walsh
A lifelong advocate for workers’ rights, Marty Walsh has dedicated his career to supporting labor movements, public service, and economic empowerment. Born and raised in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, he began his career as a union construction worker before rising to become President of Laborers Local 223 and head of the Greater Boston Building Trades Council, representing 35,000 workers.
Walsh served for 16 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives before being elected Mayor of Boston in 2013, where he championed economic growth, education, civil rights, and social services. In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed him as the 29th U.S. Secretary of Labor, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening worker protections, expanding job training programs, and improving workplace conditions nationwide. In 2023, Walsh transitioned to his current role as Executive Director of the NHL Players’ Association, continuing his lifelong commitment to labor advocacy.
Walsh’s personal journey has shaped his leadership—having overcome Burkitt’s Lymphoma as a child and embracing recovery from alcoholism, he remains a staunch advocate for healthcare access and second chances.
Graduate Ceremony Speaker: Sheryl McQuade G’93
McQuade leads TD Bank’s New England Metro region, overseeing retail, small business, and commercial banking operations across six states and 249 stores, while supporting approximately 1,800 employees.
A Springfield native and Western New England University alumna, McQuade’s connection to the region spans generations. As she reflects in her upcoming Commencement remarks, Springfield helped shape her family’s legacy—from her father’s role as conductor of the Springfield Symphony to her son’s work as an educator in Springfield Public Schools—instilling in her a strong work ethic and a belief that success is measured not only by achievement, but by contribution.
McQuade earned her graduate degree at WNE, balancing career, family, and academic commitments as part of the University’s first weekend MBA cohort—an experience that continues to inform her leadership today.
With more than 35 years of experience in banking, she brings a deep and practical understanding of the industry shaped by leadership roles in commercial lending, credit risk management, middle market and business banking, consumer banking, and retail branch development.
Her career reflects a consistent focus on growth, operational excellence, and empowering teams—values that align closely with WNE’s approach to graduate and professional education.
A Message for the Class of 2026
The selection of Walsh and McQuade highlights two distinct but complementary leadership paths—one grounded in public service and workforce advocacy, the other in business innovation and regional economic growth.
As the Class of 2026 prepares to graduate, their messages will reinforce a central theme: outcomes matter. Western New England University graduates leave with the skills, experience, and confidence to navigate change, seize opportunity, and create impact in the communities they serve.
The WNE Commencement Ceremonies will take place this year on Thursday, May 14 at the MassMutual Center. Nearly 500 undergraduates will attend the Undergraduate Ceremony, which begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by approximately 400 graduate students attending the Graduate Commencement Ceremony at 3:00 p.m.
