Prominent Non-Profit Leaders Complement Commencement

(May 1, 2004) CHARLOTTE, N.C.,  — Queens University of Charlotte hosted two of North Carolina’s most prominent non-profit leaders for graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies that took place on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1. Michael Marsicano from the Foundation For The Carolinas and Keith Fishburne from Special Olympics North Carolina will address the 145th commencement classes.

	Dr. Michael Marsicano, President and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas

“We were delighted to have these two commencement speakers honor our graduates this year. Their community spirit, leadership and service complement what we strive to achieve at Queens. Our students were fortunate to hear from two of the most respected non-profit leaders in the southeast,” said Queens President, Dr. Pamela Lewis.

Dr. Marsicano, president and chief executive officer for the Foundation For The Carolinas, spoke to 140 graduates from the McColl Graduate School of Business and Hayworth College on Friday, April 30 at 7pm in the E.H. Little Fine Arts Center.

Marsicano joined the Foundation in 1999, coming from the Arts & Science Council in Charlotte where he served as president and CEO for 10 years. During his tenure, the Arts & Science Council became one of the largest endowed arts councils in the United States. He was the recipient of the 2003 Excellence in Management Award, and Charlotte Magazine recently profiled him as one of the ten most influential leaders in Charlotte.  Marsicano received his bachelor of science, master of education and doctor of philosophy from Duke University.

Keith Fishburne, President and CEO of Special Olympics North Carolina

Keith Fishburne, president and CEO of Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) addressed 231 undergraduates on Saturday, May 1 at 10am in Dana Auditorium due to inclement weather that forced the ceremony inside.  Fishburne has been president and CEO of SONC since May 1997. SONC is the largest program in North America and fifth largest Special Olympics program in the world, with more than 32,000 athletes registered. Fishburne also serves on the advisory council for the new sports complex at Marion Diehl Park that Queens is developing with Mecklenburg County to serve senior and special populations.

Fishburne earned a bachelor of art in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds a certificate in non-profit management from Duke University.

Queens University of Charlotte is a private, coed, Presbyterian-affiliated liberal arts university in the heart of historic Charlotte serving approximately 1,900 undergraduate and graduate students through its College of Arts and Sciences, The Pauline Lewis Hayworth College and the McColl Graduate School of Business.

For additional information visit the Queens website (www.queens.edu), or call Queens University of Charlotte at 704 337-2485.

-------------------------------------
Printed from www.Queens.edu.

Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28274
Phone: 704 337-2200
Fax: 704 337-2403
Thrive.