MSOE’s 2020 Spring Commencement has been postponed in order to safeguard the community against the COVID-19 outbreak. The ceremony will be held Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3 p.m.  

“We’ve received consistent feedback from many graduating seniors and their families. Our seniors have worked, lived and learned alongside their classmates and would like their own ceremony as a class rather than having it combined with another,” said President John Walz. “While they understand the many reasons for rescheduling, they have committed to return to campus from anywhere their careers and lives take them to celebrate with their fellow students, faculty, staff and loved ones later this year.”  

While the celebration is a bit delayed, graduating seniors will receive their diplomas through the mail as originally scheduled. An abridged senior week celebration is also being planned for the days leading up to commencement (Sept. 17-19).   In September the university will celebrate undergraduate and graduate students in engineering majors, the Rader School of Business and the School of Nursing as they receive their bachelor’s or master’s degrees.  

Peggy Troy, president and CEO of Children’s Wisconsin, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Nursing and deliver the keynote address. Troy is the first female president and CEO of Children’s Wisconsin, the only health system in Wisconsin that is 100 percent dedicated to kids. Under her leadership, the hospital is ranked in nine specialties by U.S. News & World Report, employs more than 5,000 people throughout the state, and is served by more than 525 of Wisconsin’s top pediatric providers from the Medical College of Wisconsin. 

In her role, Troy keeps an eye on the horizon, always anticipating and preparing for changes in the dynamic and complex health care landscape. As the visionary leader of a nearly billion-dollar pediatric health system, she is committed to collaborating with individuals and organizations that have the best interest of kids in mind.  

Troy earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marquette University and a master’s in nursing from DePaul University in Chicago. Her talents and passion for children’s health led to progressive leadership roles in both adult and pediatric health systems prior to coming to Children’s Hospital in 2009.  

In 2019, Troy received the 2019 Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Hospital Association. She is a strong community advocate and volunteers her time to organizations that improve overall health and quality of life. She is a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and serves on the boards of the Rexnord Corporation, Marquette University, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Teach for America and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center. She is the former chair of the board of the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA).