Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey to Deliver Keynote at Morgan State University’s Fall 2024 Commencement

Morgan Alum and Political Leader to Recount His Journey to the Graduating Class:
From the National Treasure to Fighting Injustice Through Politics

BALTIMORE — The honorable Mayor Edward C. Gainey, the first African American to serve as mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, will be the keynote speaker for Morgan State University’s 11th Fall Commencement Ceremony. Mayor Gainey, who graduated from Morgan in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in business management, was selected by Morgan President David K. Wilson to inspire the latest class of graduates. Gainey will share his story of dedicated career service to the Pittsburgh community, where he has actively addressed social and economic inequities and has been committed to finding innovative solutions to enhance the well-being of his fellow citizens. The graduation ceremony, which will take place at the Talmadge L. Hill Field House on Friday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m., will also recognize Morgan alum Mary Elaine Proctor Blackwell (Class of 1949) and Distinguished Professor Juan E. Gilbert, Ph.D., with honorary degrees.

“When alumni return to our university, it brings a renewed sense of inspiration and encouragement to our graduates, significantly impacting their lives as they embark on their new journeys. These interactions provide valuable insights and foster connections that can help graduates navigate their careers,” said President Wilson. “Mayor Gainey’s story is a powerful example of how attending a Historically Black College or University can shape a person’s life. By sharing his experience, he passes the torch to our future leaders, further inspiring them to strive for excellence.”

Mayor Ed Gainey was born and reared in Pittsburgh. Upon graduating from Morgan State University and inspired by his studies, Gainey recognized the potential of political service to bring about positive change in his hometown. There he became a community organizer focused on addressing critical issues faced by underserved communities. In this role, he led the implementation of innovative programs aimed at fostering community engagement and economic empowerment. His grassroots initiatives and unwavering advocacy for equitable opportunities and social programs established him as a respected and recognized leader.

In 2012, Gainey was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. As a state representative, he committed himself to providing effective leadership and vision, building trust in diverse neighborhoods, improving education, creating jobs and enhancing public safety. In recognition of his efforts to educate and uplift communities, the Pittsburgh City Paper named him the “2020 Politician of the Year."

Mayor Gainey's election in 2022, making him the first Black person elected as mayor for the City of Pittsburgh, marked a significant change in the city’s political landscape. Since assuming office, he has dedicated himself to transforming Pittsburgh into a model of safety, inclusivity and economic vitality. His administration has set a clear agenda focused on several key priorities. One of the foremost objectives has been to enhance the city’s ability to deliver essential services effectively. This involves not only improving infrastructure but also ensuring that basic needs are met for all residents.

“It's truly an honor to return to my alma mater as the fall commencement speaker. Morgan State University is the place that cemented my path, providing me with invaluable experiences that laid the foundation for me to become the first Black Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “This historic university provided me with a sense of belonging and a fantastic educational experience, and I look forward to pouring into the latest graduating class as they prepare to embark on the phase of their journey.” 

Former Morgan “Alumna of the Year” Mary Elaine Proctor Blackwell will join Mayor Gainey during the commencement ceremonies. Blackwell, a graduate of Morgan’s Class of 1949, has been the guiding force behind the establishment of three endowment funds at Morgan State University: the Harold Blackwell Sr. Endowment Fund, the Dr. Effietee M. Payne Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Class of ’49 Alumni House Maintenance Endowment Fund. As an undergraduate at Morgan, she majored in health and physical education and minored in history and English but also joined other Morgan students in civil rights activism.

In 1948, she served on the planning committee for the March on Annapolis, near the beginning of what would come to be known as the civil rights movement. Blackwell and her peers became instrumental in the desegregation of the soda fountain at Northwood Shopping Center near Morgan’s campus. After her graduation from Morgan, Blackwell served as a public school teacher before joining the faculty at D.C. Teachers College (which later merged with the University of the District of Columbia) in 1967. Since retiring at age 55, Blackwell has remained ever the activist, while continuing to support her alma mater. Her work post-retirement focused on commemorating the work of Effietee Payne, P.E.D., a groundbreaking advocate for women’s rights and Morgan’s first female head coach. In recognition of her life’s work in service, the University will award Blackwell an honorary Doctor of Public Service.

A second honorary degree will be awarded to Juan E. Gilbert, Ph.D., the Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor and chair of the Computer and Information Science and Engineering Department at the University of Florida, where he leads the Human Experience Research Lab. In 2023, President Joe Biden awarded Dr. Gilbert the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, for pioneering a universal voting system that makes voting more reliable and accessible for everyone, and for increasing diversity in the computer science workforce. President Biden also recently appointed Dr. Gilbert to serve as a member of the National Science Board, along with Morgan’s own Willie E. May, Ph.D., vice president for Research and Economic Development. Gilbert also served as a valued member of the National Blue-Ribbon Panel on STEM Research Expansion, which Morgan convened to help guide its efforts to become an R1 (“very high research”) university.

Dr. Gilbert became the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Cincinnati in 2001 and is the inventor of Prime III, an open-source, secure, accessible voting technology used in numerous organizational and statewide elections. He is also an advocate of diversity in the computing sciences. Professional engineering organizations and the United States government have recognized his efforts to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in computing disciplines.

Dr. Gilbert is an Association for Computing Machinery Fellow, an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The University will present him with an honorary Doctor of Science.

Morgan will host its Fall Commencement on Friday, Dec. 13, at the Talmadge L. Hill Field House. For more information about Morgan’s Fall 2024 Commencement Exercises, visit the official commencement site online.

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:
Cheryl Stewart or Larry Jones, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022