The ceremony will honor students completing doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees this semester, recognizing their achievements and marking the beginning of their next chapter as leaders, innovators and professionals across industries.

RMU President Michelle L. Patrick, Ph.D., and Provost Joseph E. Zimmer, Ph.D., will confer degrees and celebrate the hard work and dedication of this year’s graduating class. These graduates have distinguished themselves through academic excellence, hands-on experience and a commitment to shaping meaningful careers. As graduates embark on their professional paths, they carry forward the University’s mission of transforming lives through engaged learning and career readiness.

As part of the ceremony, RMU will bestow honorary doctoral degrees upon Robert M. Peirce, Jr. and Joan C. Peirce, whose visionary philanthropy has had a transformative impact on literacy education throughout Western Pennsylvania. The Peirces are the founding benefactors of The Bob and Joan Peirce Center for Structured Reading Teacher Training at RMU, which prepares educators to support students with dyslexia and other reading differences through evidence-based instruction.

Through their leadership and generosity, the Peirce Center has served an estimated 1,007 students and supported 272 teachers through scholarship opportunities. Their investment helped RMU earn International Dyslexia Association (IDA) accreditation, positioning the University as a regional leader in reading and literacy education. The Peirces’ continued philanthropy has expanded opportunities for teachers across the region to pursue advanced training, strengthening a network of highly skilled literacy educators.

Bob Peirce, founding partner of Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C., and a former Allegheny County Commissioner and Clerk of Courts, along with Joan Peirce, are lifelong advocates for children, education and the Pittsburgh community. Their belief that literacy is the foundation of opportunity and human potential has guided their decades of service and philanthropic impact.

The University looks forward to celebrating the achievements of the Fall 2025 graduating class and welcoming them into the RMU alumni community.