BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Recently retired healthcare executive and Illinois Wesleyan University trustee Colleen L. Kannaday will deliver the University’s Commencement address on Sunday, May 3.
Approximately 338 graduates will be honored in the Class of 2026. Weather permitting, the ceremony will be held outdoors at Kemp Commencement Plaza located on the Eckley Quad by State Farm Hall beginning at 1 p.m. and will conclude no later than 4 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be relocated indoors to the Activity Center at the Shirk Center. That decision will be made on Friday, May 1.
The ceremony will also be live streamed at iwu.edu/live. More information is available at iwu.edu/commencement.
Kannaday retired in February 2026 after serving since 2010 as the President of Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Illinois, and Carle Eureka Hospital in Eureka, Illinois. Both organizations are part of Carle Health, based in Urbana, Illinois.
Prior to joining Carle Health, Kannaday served as the President of St. Francis Hospital & Health Center in Blue Island, Illinois, and as Vice President of Operations at St. Eugene Community Hospital in Dillon, South Carolina. Both hospitals were members of SSM Health, a St. Louis-based Catholic health system and the first healthcare recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Her work has been recognized through honors including the YWCA McLean County Woman of Distinction Award, Heartland Community College President’s Medallion, American Hospital Association Grassroots Champion Award and the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Athena Award.
Kannaday holds a master’s degree in health care administration from St. Louis University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Santa Clara University. She currently serves on the Illinois Wesleyan University Board of Trustees and is a former board member of the Illinois Hospital Association.
Additional speakers at the ceremony will include graduating senior Chloe Shapkauski, who was selected to speak on behalf of her class. Associate Professor of Biology Tyler Schwend, voted by the student body as "Professor of the Year," will give remarks on behalf of faculty.