Salem State Commencement Speakers Are MA Education Chief, Entrepreneur

SALEM, MA — The state Secretary of Education and the founder and owner of one of the country's largest auto dealership groups are this year's Salem State University commencement speakers.

The university said both will receive honorary degrees and that "in standing with our practice, these individuals have records of leadership, advocacy and community service that align with our values as an institution."

Patrick Tutwiler has served as the state's education chief since 2023 and previously was the senior program officer at the Boston-based Barr Foundation. He has specialized in developing new high school models that impact the entire school system.

He was the headmaster of Boston Public Schools, a history teacher at Brighton High School, a principal in Wayland and the deputy superintendent and superintendent at Lynn Public Schools.

Tutwiler will be speaking at the McKeown School of Education and College of Arts and Sciences Commencement Ceremony on May 18 at 10 am.

Brian Kelly is the owner of the Kelly Automotive Group —one of the top 125 dealer groups by sales in America.

Kelly began working at his father's used car lot at age 13 and now heads the group that proudly supports countless schools, programs and organizations that provide food, healthcare, books, sporting equipment, and toys to children in need. The Group also supports research for ALS, Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer research.

In addition to sharing his business knowledge during speaking engagements on SSU's campus, his dealerships also organized a wardrobe drive that benefited Salem State's Career Closet, providing hundreds of Viking students with access to new and gently used career-ready clothing.

Kelly will be speaking at the Bertolon School of Business and College of Arts and Sciences Commencement Ceremony on May 17 at 3 p.m.

The Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services Commencement Ceremony will be held on May 17 at 10 a.m. No honorary degrees will be given at this event.

Student commencement speakers will be announced at a later date.

All commencement exercises are ticketed events and will be held in the Richard B. O'Keefe Complex at 225 Canal Street. All three ceremonies will be broadcast live here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)