PHILADELPHIA (April 5, 2010) — Saint Joseph’s University will grant honorary degrees to John E. Pepper, Jr., retired chairman and CEO of the Procter & Gamble Company, and Arnold L. Mitchem, president of the nonprofit Council for Opportunity in Education, at the University’s 2010 Commencement ceremonies, set for Saturday, May 15. The graduate ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., the undergraduate ceremony at 3 p.m. Both will be held on Gest Lawn on the Saint Joseph’s campus.

Currently serving as chairman of the board of the Walt Disney Company, John E. Pepper, Jr., will speak at the undergraduate commencement ceremony, where he will receive an honorary doctorate in commercial science. He spent a 40-year career with Procter & Gamble in various positions, including chief executive officer and chairman from 1995-99, and chairman of the board from 2000-02. In addition to his leadership role on the Disney Company board, he is co-chairman of the board of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, where he was CEO from January, 2006 to May, 2007.  He served as vice president of finance and administration at Yale University from January, 2004 to December, 2005.

Pepper graduated from Yale in 1960 and was a Fellow of the Yale Corporation from 1995-2003, including two years as Senior Fellow.  A native of Pottsville, Pa., he and his wife Francie have four children and reside in Wyoming, Ohio.

The graduate ceremony will feature Arnold L. Mitchem, Ph.D., who will be awarded an honorary doctorate in public service. He has served as president of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) since its founding in 1981, dedicating his career to furthering the expansion of educational opportunities for low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities. He began his career on the history faculty at Marquette University, where he was named director of the University’s Educational Opportunity Program in 1969.  He served in that role until 1986, when he relocated to Washington, D.C., to represent low-income and disabled students at the national level.  He is currently a member of the board of trustees at Marquette.

Mitchem graduated from the University of Southern Colorado in 1965. Before receiving his Ph.D. in foundations of education at Marquette in 1981, he studied European history as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at the University of Wisconsin.

“I look forward to welcoming these honorary degree recipients to our tremendous University community and recognizing them for their exemplary careers,” said University President Timothy R. Lannon, S.J.