SP2 announces Linda Goler Blount as 2025 Commencement Speaker

Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) announced last week that Linda Goler Blount, MPH, a public health leader and the new President and CEO of Community Catalyst, will deliver the School’s 2025 Commencement speech on May 17. Learn more from this message from SP2 Dean Sara “Sally” S. Bachman, PhD.

Dear Members of the SP2 Community,

I am thrilled to announce that the 2025 Commencement address for the School of Social Policy & Practice will be delivered by Linda Goler Blount, MPH, the new President and CEO of Community Catalyst whose mission is to ensure the nation’s healthcare system is accountable to all by prioritizing people over profit and removing structural racism and inequities from the delivery of care.

Most recently, Linda was President of the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI), serving from February 2014 to April 2025. There she steered the organization’s strategic direction to address critical health issues affecting Black women and girls in the U.S. Prior to BWHI, she was the Vice President of Programmatic Impact for the United Way of Greater Atlanta, focusing on eliminating inequalities across various sectors. Before that, she served as the inaugural National Vice President of Health Disparities at the American Cancer Society, where she developed strategies to reduce cancer disparities and crafted a nationwide health equity policy.

With over 25 years in public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Linda’s extensive career includes roles at The Coca-Cola Company and as an expert scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her international expertise is marked by consultancy roles with government ministries across Germany, South Africa, and the Caribbean.

A recognized speaker and public health leader, Linda serves on several boards, including the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review and the University of Michigan School of Public Health’s Summer Enrichment Program. She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering/Operations Research from Eastern Michigan University.

The SP2 Graduation Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at The Palestra at 6:30 p.m. ET. There will be an SP2 Pre-Ceremony Reception 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET. Please see the Commencement Schedule for more details.

All the best,

Sally

Sara S. Bachman, Ph.D.

Dean

School of Social Policy & Practice

University of Pennsylvania