Lakeland names speakers for May commencement
Lakeland University has named the speakers for its 164th commencement ceremonies, set for Saturday, May 9.
All the speakers will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Lakeland.
Farley grew up in Madison, Wis., and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in marketing. He began his career in banking and finance before running The Chris Farley Foundation (1999–2012), a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on substance abuse prevention. Through humor-based programs, he helped young people build communication skills and create supportive environments.
In 2008, he co-authored The Chris Farley Show, a New York Times bestseller about his late brother, comedian Chris Farley. He has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America and Larry King Live to discuss addiction and recovery.
Now in recovery himself, Tom Farley is a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction treatment. Through his with at Recovery.com, he connects people with the resources they need to heal. As a speaker, he shares his journey to break stigma, inspire hope and foster connection.
Black is president emeritus of Lakeland and Eastern University in Pennsylvania. He served as president of Lakeland from 1989-1997 and then again from 2017-2020. He was president of Eastern and Palmer Theological Seminary from 1998-2013.
He started his career as a development officer at two private colleges and then served as a chief academic officer for 10 years. He holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from Lee University, the University of Tennessee and Ohio University, respectively.
His two Lakeland presidencies saw some of the most significant growth in Lakeland’s history. Enrollment nearly doubled during his first tenure, thanks in part to development of Lakeland’s first graduate programs, the founding of Lakeland’s Tokyo, Japan, campus, significant building projects on the main campus in Sheboygan County and expansion of the evening and online programs.
During this second tenure, he led the introduction of Lakeland’s Cooperative Education program, which led to several of the largest freshman classes in Lakeland’s history. His second tenure also included growth of Lakeland’s Tokyo campus to a four-year degree and graduate programs, as well as securing a USDA loan to fund expansion of the largest building project in Lakeland’s history.
Lakeland’s Tokyo campus now partners with Virginia Wesleyan University and operates as Lakeland University Japan/VWU Global. Black has served as the executive-in-residence at VWU since 2015 and has been instrumental in the transformative growth of the university, including the creation of the Batten Honors College.
Widely admired for her vision, integrity, and humility, Jane Batten is recognized as one of Virginia’s most influential philanthropists and her lifetime of service has advanced education, environmental stewardship and community well-being.
Raised in Norfolk, Va., she and her late husband, Frank Batten, an influential media entrepreneur and civic leader, shared a deep belief in community responsibility, service and stewardship. Together, they raised a family committed to philanthropy, leadership and public service, values that continue to shape the Batten legacy.
Jane Batten has devoted decades to nonprofit governance and institutional leadership, serving on numerous boards and foundations that strengthen communities across Coastal Virginia. She is also a co-founder of E3: Elevate Early Education, reflecting her belief that opportunity and learning must begin early and be accessible to all.
Education and environmental responsibility are central to her philanthropic legacy. She has supported colleges and universities throughout Virginia and beyond through scholarships, endowed academic programs and transformative capital investments, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary education and environmental science. Her environmental leadership has been shaped in part by her involvement with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and further reflected in her support of coastal resilience, marine science and sustainability initiatives.
Her legacy is also evident in the generations of students, families and communities who continue to benefit from her unwavering commitment to education, environmental stewardship and civic leadership.
Miller has served as president of Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, Va., since 2015. Respected as one of the most entrepreneurial higher education executives in America, Miller is in his 35th year as a college president. Previously, he served as president of Bethany College, Wesley College and Lincoln Memorial University.
Throughout his career, Miller has championed innovation, institutional transformation and access to opportunity through higher education. He is especially committed to the small, classical liberal arts environment that provides students of all backgrounds personalized pathways to life and career success.
Miller has maintained a long-standing relationship with Lakeland University dating to 1989, when he completed a postgraduate research project with Black regarding the establishment of Lakeland’s Japan campus. He has remained a strong advocate for Lakeland’s global mission. In 2020, he actively supported the collaborative relationship between VWU’s Global Campus and LUJ. In 2024, he further strengthened that partnership through support of the Batten & Black School for International Studies at LUJ.
An accomplished scholar and thought leader, Miller has authored or edited 27 books or monographs and more than 200 professional articles. He has been a regular columnist for a variety of national publications and has served for 23 years as executive editor of President to President, a national thought series for college and university presidents. For 15 years, he served as chair/president of the InterAmerican Consortium, a collaborative of eight American and 13 international universities.
Miller holds bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctorate degrees from West Virginia Wesleyan College, the University of Dayton, Vanderbilt University and The Union Institute & University, respectively. A lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, he is a former president of the Council on Colleges and Universities of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the North American Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities.
