蘑菇视频 Celebrates Graduates at 61st Commencement
May 9, 2026
On Saturday, May 9, 2026, 蘑菇视频 (FPU) celebrated the Class of 2026, bringing together graduates, families, faculty, staff, alumni, Board of Trustees members, and honored guests on the lakeside Rindge Campus as well as via livestream. This year鈥檚 ceremony also included recognition of the first cohort of 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, launched in January of 2024.
鈥淲elcome to FPU鈥檚 61st Commencement ceremony and congratulations to the Class of 2026,鈥� said President Dr. Peter Eden. 鈥淭o all of today's graduates, your hard work and perseverance has led you to this day, and we are genuinely proud to recognize each and every Raven. 蘑菇视频 is a very special place, and I am confident all of you will succeed in this ever-challenging world, using your many strengths that were put to good use at FPU. I also congratulate our first Clinical Mental Health Counseling cohort graduating today. This is just one of our many graduate health professions-focused programs that are so important to rural health care and to FPU鈥檚 overall educational model. We're proud to play an important role in training the next generation of healthcare clinicians and leaders, along with other talented, driven individuals certain to make society better."
The University bestowed an honorary doctoral degree and presented two Honorable Walter R. Peterson Citizen Leader Award at this year鈥檚 ceremony.
This year鈥檚 honorary degree was awarded to Dr. Joanne M. Conroy, CEO of the Dartmouth鈥揌itchcock Medical Center (DHMC), which partners with FPU鈥檚 health professions graduate programs. Specifically, in late 2025, FPU's Graduate Academic Center in Lebanon, N.H. relocated to Centerra Parkway, near DHMC and Dartmouth College鈥檚 Geisel School of Medicine, which has allowed expansion of FPU鈥檚 Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program, including a new, state-of-the-art simulation lab for rural health care delivery, along with enhanced partnership activities with DHMC.
Dr. Conroy has led Dartmouth Health since 2017, New Hampshire鈥檚 largest private employer and only academic health system, including its flagship hospital, DHMC. Highlights of Dr. Conroy鈥檚 leadership include a dramatic turnaround in Dartmouth Health鈥檚 financial performance, the addition of Southwestern Vermont Health Care and Valley Regional Hospital as members of the Dartmouth Health system, the completion of two major expansion projects, and a strategic planning process that is guiding the organization into the future.
The Honorable Walter R. Peterson Citizen Leader Award was created to honor the late New Hampshire governor, second president of FPU, and his lifelong commitment to public service and higher education. This year鈥檚 awards were presented to Julie Lenzer and Dr. Jennifer MacDonald.
Julie Lenzer is an entrepreneur, innovation leader, and keynote speaker who inspires audiences to lean into unexpected journeys and embrace possibility thinking. Most recently, Ms. Lenzer served as Chief Innovation Officer at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), a Department of Defense funded Manufacturing Innovation Institute and part of the Manufacturing USA network.
Dr. Jennifer MacDonald is a physician executive and Army veteran experienced in leading national coalitions to achieve strategic impact at scale. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, an industry-driven public private partnership with a mission to advance the U.S. bioeconomy and fundamentally transform the future of human health.
FPU is an important, integrated member of the ReGen Valley Tech Hub and is engaged in building clinical education opportunities in regenerative medicine.
At the commencement event, the University conferred 506 degrees at the doctoral, master鈥檚, bachelor鈥檚, and associate levels. Among the students recognized was valedictorian Kaitlyn Bossart of Weare, NH, who majored in Health Science while also earning a minor in Nutrition. During her time at 蘑菇视频, she founded and served as president of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Campus Chapter, where she educated students about bone marrow and stem cell transplants and helped register interested individuals for the international donor registry. She also assisted faculty member Dr. Lindsay Vago with cardiorespiratory research and worked as a pediatric Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) supporting children with disabilities.
Since graduating in December 2025, Kaitlyn has continued working as an LNA at a nearby hospital. In the fall, Kaitlyn will begin the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at 蘑菇视频鈥檚 Lebanon N.H. Academic Center. She shared in her remarks, 鈥淥ver the past few years, I鈥檝e had the privilege of sitting next to, learning from, and growing alongside people whose definitions of success look very different from mine. To me, the most impressive people here are not defined by a medal, but by the challenges they have faced and overcome鈥� Being surrounded by all of you changed the way I think about success. Because success is not one-size-fits-all. We all have different struggles, different circumstances, and different priorities. So, as we move on to the next chapter of our lives, I encourage you to define success for yourself.鈥�
A recording of the Commencement Ceremony and additional photos from the event will be available soon at .