President La Jerne Cornish told The Ithacan in an exclusive interview that Bob Iger ’73, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, will be attending the 2025 Ithaca College Commencement ceremony to receive a Doctor of Letters. On April 25, the college announced in an Intercom post that Monica Digilio ’85, CEO of Compass Advisors LLC, will be the keynote speaker for the college’s 130th Commencement ceremony. 

Iger received his bachelor’s degree in television in 1973 from IC. He will be receiving a Doctor of Letters, which is an honorary degree that recognizes his contributions to his field. Digilio received her B.S. in Cinema and Photography in 1985 and her M.S. in Communications in 1986 from the Roy H. Park School of Communications. Senior acting major Jasmine Williams will also speak at commencement as the student speaker. 

President La Jerne Cornish said Iger was selected to receive his honorary degree in 2023 but he was unable to come to campus. 

“This is the year that he can come [to IC],” Cornish said. “He will not give the commencement address, [but] he will be at the Saturday night dinner. He will get his plaque with the honorary degree and then when we hood him on Sunday morning, he will say a few words.”

Commencement will take place at 10 a.m. May 18 in the Glazer Arena inside the Athletics and Events Center.