Two Will Receive Honorary Degrees from University

The University will bestow honorary degrees upon two recipients at its 2022 undergraduate commencement ceremony May 21.
The University of Scranton will bestow honorary degree upon Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick S.C., Congregational Leader for the Sisters of Charity, Halifax, Canada; and Lawrence R. Lynch, former chair of The University of Scranton Board of Trustees and recently retired assurance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, at its undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21.
The University of Scranton will bestow honorary degree upon Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick S.C., Congregational Leader for the Sisters of Charity, Halifax, Canada; and Lawrence R. Lynch, former chair of The University of Scranton Board of Trustees and recently retired assurance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, at its undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21.

Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick S.C., Congregational Leader for the Sisters of Charity, Halifax, Canada; and Lawrence R. Lynch, former chair of The University of Scranton Board of Trustees and recently retired assurance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP; will receive honorary degrees from The University of Scranton at its undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21.

Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., vice president for Mission and Ministry at The University of Scranton, will serve as the principal speaker. Father Keller received an honorary doctoral degree from the University in 2006.

Sister Fitzpatrick, Ed.D., was elected the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity Halifax in October of 2020, serving her Sisters and advancing the charism of charity throughout the world. She also serves as a board member of DePaul University and St. John’s University.

A nationally recognized leader in higher education, Sister Fitzpatrick served as president and CEO of St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York, for 25 years before retiring from that position in June of 2020. During her tenure, she placed sustainability at the forefront of the college’s efforts, incorporating sustainability into the curriculum and daily operations of the college and creating the Global Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility as a hub of these efforts. She also led the way for the college to join the Catholic Climate Covenant, a pledge to educate students, employees and community members on climate change.

From 1981 to 1995, Sister Fitzpatrick served at St. John’s University, holding a number of positions there, including senior vice president and vice president and assistant to the president. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston State College and a master’s degree from Fordham University, a master’s degree in education and her doctorate from Columbia University.

Until his recent retirement, Lynch was assurance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, serving in the financial services sector. He previously served as a trustee of Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, Friends of Saint Joseph’s Passionist Church of Paris, International Insurance Foundation, chairman of the board of trustees for the Marymount International School in Paris, as a board member of the French American Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia chapter, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic Social Services.

Lynch has supported many University initiatives, including fundraisers and recruitment for students. Lynch serve three consecutive terms on the University’s Board of Trustees (2009-2018) and served as its chair from 2014-2018. He also served as president of the Scranton Club of Philadelphia; and as a member of the Alumni Society’s Board of Governor, the Kania School of Management’s Accounting Department Professional Alumni Council and the President’s Business Council. With his wife, Keli, they established the Joseph F. Lynch Memorial Scholarship in honor of Lynch’s father, Joseph, to provide need-based aid for students.

A certified public accountant, Lynch earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Scranton in 1981.

The University’s undergraduate commencement ceremony will begin at noon on May 21 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre.

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