Spring 2025 Commencement

Commencement Speakers

Stephen M. Schanwald ’77

Undergraduate Ceremony Commencement Speaker

Stephen M. Schanwald ’77 is a trailblazer in sports marketing. Schanwald spent nearly 30 years with the Bulls as Executive Vice President of Business Operations, building a world-renowned brand during—and after—the Michael Jordan era. His remarkable sports marketing career includes serving as the first-ever director of sports promotions with the U.S. Air Force Academy. He moved to Major League Baseball, serving as promotions director for the Pittsburgh Pirates, earning his first world championship ring with their 1979 World Series, and then moved to the Chicago White Sox as assistant vice president of marketing. Schanwald got his start working with Russ Potts, the first collegiate sports marketing director at the University of Maryland, while Schanwald was a student. Schanwald recently made a generous $8 million gift to establish the Stephen M. Schanwald Sports Management Program, where he also serves on the Advisory Council. 

Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy, MBA ’13

Graduate Ceremony Commencement Speaker

Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy has deep experience across the defense and policy space. In September 2019, he was confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate and sworn in as the 24th Secretary of the Army under President Donald J. Trump and served in the role until January 20, 2021. In August 2017, he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate and appointed as the 33rd Undersecretary of the Army. Prior to his confirmation as the Undersecretary of the Army, McCarthy worked for Lockheed Martin Corporation in sequential vice president roles responsible for the sustainment, customer solutions and program integration of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Previously, McCarthy was a special assistant to the 22nd Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama. McCarthy served in the U.S. Army from 1997 to 2002 and deployed in combat operations during the invasion of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. 

McCarthy is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and holds an MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. McCarthy currently serves as Operating Partner for AE Industrial Partners and is on the Board of Directors of CACI International. He is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a member of the Board of Directors of the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, and is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business. In 2019, McCarthy was inducted into the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame. 

Location and Parking

Accessibility

Those with limited mobility should park in Terrapin Trail garage. Wheelchair seating will be available at the top of section 120. There will be Xfinity staff near the garage entrance to help direct people who need help finding section 120.

Those who need the ASL interpreter should sit in the first few rows of section 114. Xfinity staff will reserve the first three rows for those who need this service.

Ceremony Eligibility Guidelines

Students that completed all degree requirements during the Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and students who will be completing all degree requirements during the Spring 2025 semesters are eligible to participate in the Smith School and Main Commencement Ceremonies.

Students in the Robert H. Smith School of Business who will complete all degree requirements by August 2025, instead of May 2025, can request permission to participate in the May Smith School Commencement Ceremony & Main Campus Ceremony by completing the online request form.  Names of August 2025 graduates who are approved to participate will not appear in the University or Smith School Commencement programs until the May 2026 ceremonies.

Commencement Early Participation Request