KGI Announces National Academy of Sciences President Dr. Marcia McNutt as 2023 Commencement Speaker

Dr. Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences, will be the keynote speaker at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI)’s 22nd Annual Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

“I am honored for the opportunity to share in the celebration of KGI’s Class of 2023,” McNutt said. “The KGI academic programs are truly innovative, and the commencement ceremony will be a wonderful milestone as the graduates start impactful careers in biotech and healthcare.”

McNutt was awarded the AGU’s Macelwane Medal in 1998 for research accomplishments by a young scientist. She received the Maurice Ewing Medal in 2007 for her contributions to deep-sea exploration. She has a BA in physics from Colorado College and a PhD in Earth sciences from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

“We are honored to have Dr. McNutt serve as the keynote speaker for our 2023 commencement,” KGI President Dr. Sheldon Schuster said.

“She is an award-winning scientist with more than 25 years of experience as a geophysicist. We highly anticipate her motivating address to our graduates and KGI community.”

From 2009 to 2013, McNutt was director of the U.S. Geological Survey, during which time USGS responded to several major disasters, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. For her work to help contain that spill, McNutt was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard’s Meritorious Service Medal. From 2013 to 2016, McNutt acted as editor-in-chief of Science journals.

McNutt is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the Geological Society of America, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the International Association of Geodesy. Her honors include membership in the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

KGI’s 2023 Commencement will occur at 2 p.m. PT at Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium, located at 1245 N. Euclid Avenue in Ontario. For more information on the event, visit kgi.edu/commencement.