Brenda Gael McSweeney, Ph.D., educator, economist and former United Nations executive, will be the principal speaker at Lackawanna College's 113th Commencement to be held on Saturday, May 19, at 1:30 p.m. in The Mellow Theater on the college's main campus in Scranton. Approximately 240 students will receive Associate Degrees in Arts, Science and Applied Science at the ceremony.

Dr. McSweeney served with the United Nations for thirty years in a range of administrative positions. She began her UN career living in a West African courtyard and managing the project portfolio of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Burkina Faso. Three years in policy at UNDP’s New York headquarters were followed by her appointment as the Kingston-based Resident Representative of UNDP and Resident Coordinator of UN development activities in Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Turks & Caicos Islands, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda.

Dr. McSweeney led the European-headquartered global UN Volunteers Programme for a decade with oversight of 4,000 UNV specialists from over 130 countries engaged in grassroots development, humanitarian activities and peace-building worldwide. She later headed UNDP’s largest program worldwide in India, serving also as Resident Coordinator.

Prior to joining the UN, Dr. McSweeney taught and conducted research activities at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University and Harvard University, and was an economics analyst in the Executive Office of the President of the United States and in the private sector.

Presently, Dr. McSweeney is Designated Resident Scholar at Brandeis University's Women's Studies Research Center, Professor at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and a visiting faculty member in the Women’s Study Program at Boston University.

"We are indeed fortunate in having Dr. McSweeney speak to our graduates because of her comprehensive understanding of the many complex problems that face the world and their impact on today’s college student," said Raymond Angeli, President of Lackawanna College. "Her extensive background in dealing with development, gender, educational, social and economic issues has provided her with a wealth of experiences and insights to share with our students and their families."

He added, “What makes Dr. McSweeney unique is her passion for improving the lot of those mired in poverty, creating sustainable national infrastructures, p romoting gender equality and empowerment and fostering educational excellence. She is a true humanitarian.”

Born in Boston, Dr McSweeney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, and two Masters’ degrees and a Doctorate from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Medford, Massachusetts. In Geneva, Switzerland, she attended courses at the Graduate Institute of International studies and at the Institute of European Studies. As a Fulbright Scholar in Paris from 1967 and to 1969, she studied international development assistance at the Institute of Political Science of the Sorbonne. Her doctorate was in development economics.

Dr. McSweeney is the author of several books and many journal articles. She is the recipient of awards from the Governments of Jamaica and Burkina Faso, and also from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.