Waynesburg U. announces 2026 commencement speakers

Waynesburg University will hold its annual Baccalaureate and Commencement exercises Sunday, May 3, on the campus of Waynesburg University.

Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), will address the Class of 2026 as the Commencement speaker, and Reverend Dr. Glen Bell, senior vice president of development of the Presbyterian Foundation, will serve as the Baccalaureate speaker.

Baccalaureate services will be held in Roberts Chapel at 11 a.m., and Commencement will be held on the front lawn of Miller Hall at 2 p.m.

Families are encouraged to arrive early, as the Commencement processional begins approximately 20 minutes prior to the ceremony. For more information, please visit Waynesburg.edu/commencement.

About the Speakers

Gayle Manchin

Gayle Manchin was sworn in as the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) thirteenth Federal Co-Chair in 2021, becoming the first ARC Federal Co-Chair from West Virginia. In this role, she works with ARC's 13-member governors, their state alternates, program managers and local development districts to strengthen economic growth throughout Appalachia, enhancing the region's national and global competitiveness.

An alumna of West Virginia University, Manchin previously worked as an educator in Marion County Schools and served on the faculty of Fairmont State University, directing the university's first Community Service Learning Program. She also led the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows in West Virginia.

Manchin previously served as West Virginia's First Lady, as a member and president of the State Board of Education and chair of the Board for Reconnecting McDowell, Inc., an AFT initiative serving rural West Virginia. She is a past president of the Vandalia Rotary Club of Charleston and an emeritus member of The Education Alliance. She also served as cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Office of Education and the Arts, and as co-founder of the WV Public Education Collaborative, where she served as the Board Chair until her appointment to the ARC.

As Federal Co-Chair, Manchin emphasizes partnerships across Appalachia's 13 states. Her priorities include expanding economic opportunities, increasing broadband access and critical infrastructure, and restoring hope to communities affected by the opioid crisis through cross-regional collaboration.

Rev. Dr. Glen Bell

Rev. Dr. Glen Bell joined the Presbyterian Foundation in August 2020 as Senior Vice President of Development. Glen and his team are responsible for the development operations of the Foundation which consists of asset gathering from churches and individuals, stewardship education and fundraising consulting services to other Presbyterian organizations.

Before joining the Foundation, Rev. Dr. Bell dedicated 30 years as a pastor in a wide variety of Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations, serving churches in North Carolina, Indiana and Florida. His roles and duties have spanned preaching, teaching and pastoral care; leadership, management and operations; and stewardship and funds development.

Rev. Dr. Bell was pastor of Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church in Laurinburg, North Carolina; pastor/head of staff of Faith Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana; executive pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana; and pastor/head of staff at First Presbyterian Church in Sarasota, Florida.

Rev. Dr. Bell has written for Journal for Preachers, Presbyterian Outlook, and Family Ministry. He has been the opening preacher for the PC(USA)'s Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference. He has served on the boards of NEXT Church, Presbyterian Outlook and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Rev. Dr. Bell holds a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

About Waynesburg University

Consistently ranked a best value school, Waynesburg University's Strategy for the 21st Century affirms its commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and ethical leadership skills for all students. Rooted in its mission of faith, learning and service, the private, Christian university is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania.