Independence Blue Cross Foundation President to Speak at Penn State Abington Commencement
Dec. 13, 2018, ABINGTON, Pa. ‑ Penn State Abington announced the Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) will serve as the keynote speaker at its Fall Commencement on Friday, December 14.
“I applaud the Penn State Abington graduates on reaching this milestone,” said Lorina Marshall-Blake. “I hope I inspire them to make the most of their great Penn State education.”
Marshall-Blake leads the Foundation's strategic, programmatic and operational efforts to fulfill its mission of leading sustainable solutions to improve the health and well-being of our neighborhoods. This includes overseeing grantmaking work for the Foundation. Under her leadership, the Foundation has awarded more than $35 million to nonprofit organizations to improve the health and well-being of the community.
Penn State Abington and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation have built a strong partnership in serving the Greater Philadelphia region. Over the past two years the Foundation has awarded Nurses for Tomorrow grants to Abington’s RN to B.S.N. nursing program for undergraduate nursing scholarships, and currently partners with Penn State on Share Your Opioid Story, an initiative empowering those impacted by the opioid epidemic through storytelling.
"Dr. Marshall-Blake embodies the values of Penn State Abington and our shared commitment to serving the Greater Philadelphia region,” said Damian J. Fernandez, chancellor, Penn State Abington. “Her commitment to empowering individuals to forge pathways to success will inspire and embolden our graduates to achieve their dreams and pursue a life-long journey of learning, service, and fulfillment of personal potential.”
Marshall-Blake is devoted to her church and community. She serves as an associate minister at the Vine Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia. In addition, she is affiliated with more than 30 professional and civic organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the United Negro College Fund, and is the 28th President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Omega Chapter. She has been recognized for her leadership and community service by diverse organizations such as the NAACP, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the League of Women Voters, and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
Marshall-Blake holds a bachelor's degree in human services, a master's in government administration and an honorary doctorate of humanities. She is an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Commencement Details:
The Penn State Abington Commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, December 14, 2018 at 10a.m. in the Athletic Building.
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About Penn State Abington
Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible, and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st century public higher education within a world-class research university. With nearly 4,000 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 19 majors, undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, and NCAA Division III athletics. For more information, visit abington.psu.edu.
About Independence Blue Cross Foundation
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation is a charitable, private foundation, whose mission is leading solutions for a healthier community. The Foundation targets the following areas of impact:
- Securing the Blue Safety Net: Strengthening the safety net of private, nonprofit health centers that provide access to quality, affordable health care in medically underserved areas.
- Bolstering the Health Care Workforce: Advancing the nursing workforce through education and professional development.
- Addressing Health Priorities: Finding local solutions to national health issues through research and cross-sector partnerships. Currently focusing on the opioid epidemic through the Supporting Treatment and Overdose Prevention (STOP) initiative.
- Community Innovation: Supporting pilot projects that pursue new approaches to existing health-focused challenges in the community.
Learn more by visiting our website: www.ibxfoundation.org. Connect with the Independence Blue Cross Foundation on Twitter at @ibxfdn.