PHILADELPHIA, March 22, 2023  — Sheila Ireland, renowned regional workforce development leader and president & CEO of Philadelphia OIC, will provide the 2023 commencement address at Peirce College’s Commencement on June 9^th.

Ireland will address graduates at the College’s 158^th Commencement Ceremony, to be held at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre in Center City Philadelphia. Graduates will be split into two ceremonies based on major and she will address both groups.

“We are honored to have Sheila as our 2023 Commencement speaker,” said Dr. Mary Ellen Caro, Peirce President & CEO. “Her leadership in the region and the Commonwealth have led to some of the country’s most innovative job training programs and workforce development solutions. We are thrilled that she will provide this year’s Commencement Address.”

Ireland has more than 25 years of experience leading human resources, training, and workforce development in the non-profit, healthcare, consulting, government, and manufacturing fields. She is well known for developing programs that improve organizational performance and achieve bottom-line results.

In 2022, Ireland took the helm as the President & CEO of Philadelphia OIC and its for-profit affiliate, Progressive Ventures, Inc. She previously served as the Deputy Secretary, Workforce Development at the Department of Labor and Industry for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where she oversaw Pennsylvania’s public workforce development system. Ireland has also served as the Executive Director of Workforce Development for the City of Philadelphia, where she managed Philadelphia’s first citywide workforce strategy, “Fueling Philadelphia’s Talent Engine, and was the founding director of the University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, where she launched UCD’s first social venture, Green City Works.

Ireland currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Peirce College. She is also the Secretary of the Board of Trustee for the Community College of Philadelphia, as well as the Chair of the Workforce Development Sub-Committee. Additionally, she is the Northeast Regional Director of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and an active member of the Forum of Executive Women and CHIEF.

More than 270 students, almost all of whom are working adults, will graduate from Peirce in 2023.

About Peirce College: 

Established in 1865, Peirce College is Pennsylvania’s only college dedicated exclusively to serving adult learners. Based in Philadelphia, the private, nonprofit college is a pioneer in online education and a regional leader in the assessment of prior learning. Today, Peirce continues its tradition of serving the unique needs of working adults through career-focused, accelerated, online programs that provide students with academic excellence, affordability and personalized support. Peirce offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Learn more at www.peirce.edu.