Saint Joseph’s College is proud to announce this year’s honorary degree recipients, class valedictorian, and online student speaker for the College’s spring 2015 Commencement, which will be held on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. at Saint Joseph’s campus in Standish.

Honorary degree recipients and speaker:

—Mary Dempsey, Doctor of Public Service

—Elizabeth McLellan, Doctor of Public Service, Commencement speaker

—Sister Mary Sullivan, RSM, Doctor of Humane Letters

Student speakers:

—Caitlin Phillips, Bachelor of Arts in Communications/New Media, valedictorian (campus programs)

—Deacon Greg Ollick, Master of Arts in Theology (online program)

Mary A. Dempsey is the co-founder of The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing in Lewiston, Maine, which improves the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities impacted by cancer. By offering support, education, integrative medicine, outreach, and prevention, the Dempsey Center assures that anyone who has been affected by cancer can receive all of these services free of charge. As an assistant director who also manages the volunteer groups for comfort items and community groups, Dempsey has played an integral role in growing the Dempsey Center’s volunteer program from three to more than 200 volunteers. She has a passion for helping others and making a positive difference in people’s lives.

Elizabeth McLellan, RN, MSN, MPH is the president and founder of Partners for World Health. The South Portland nonprofit is dedicated to improving healthcare around the world by strengthening and expanding the medical supply chain and coordinating medical missions in Africa, Asia, and South America to promote capacity building and training. McLellan has traveled extensively, working as a leader in nursing and healthcare administration.

In recognition of her innovative leadership and compassion, McLellan has received numerous awards for her outstanding community and worldwide service. The Hanley Center for Health Leadership honored her for leadership in medical and humanitarian relief for her efforts to help those in need in foreign countries. In addition, the Red Cross honored her as a Health Care Hero Recipient.

Sister Mary Sullivan, RSM is a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas–New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Region. She is also professor emerita of language and literature and dean emerita of the College of Liberal Arts at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is the author of numerous works about Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Mary is globally recognized as the expert on all things related to Catherine McAuley. Her most recent book, The Path of Mercy: The Life of Catherine McAuley, is used throughout the Mercy World.

Caitlin Phillips of Gardiner, Maine, is a 2011 graduate of Gardiner Area High School. As a student at Saint Joseph’s College, she has been a member of the Dance Team, volunteered at Pearson’s Town Farm, served as a certified Special Olympics swim coach, participated in the Step Up for Autism 5K, and served as a Relay for Life committee member. In relation to her field of study in new media, she has collaborated with members of the College community on special projects. In her junior year, she was the Harold Alfond Center’s social media intern.

Phillips has achieved Dean’s List status each semester and was chosen to be included in the 2014 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. During her­ junior year, she was inducted into the Beta Omicron chapter of Delta Epsilon Sigma, and currently serves as the chapter’s vice president. She will spend her 2015 spring break in Barcelona, Spain, studying art and architecture.

Deacon Greg Ollick of Atlanta, Georgia, was ordained for the permanent diaconate of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in February 2007. He has been the director of Christian Initiation and Adult Faith Formation at a large suburban parish (Saint John Neumann in Lilburn, Georgia) since 2008. His experience includes developing and teaching courses/sessions at the parish and diocesan level, as well as for the diaconate formation program in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. He leads retreats, missions, catechetical workshops, and sessions on specific theological topics throughout North Georgia.

For more information about this year's events, visit our Commencement page.