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2026 Commencement Speaker & Honorary Degree RecipientCynthia Y. Valko ’76
Cynthia Y. Valko ’76 graduated from Juniata with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and went on to build a distinguished career in the insurance industry spanning more than three decades. Known for her strategic leadership and ability to guide organizations through periods of change, Valko held senior leadership roles at several major insurance companies. As vice president and chief of staff of Aetna Life and Casualty, she helped lead the company through significant financial growth and organizational transformation. She later served as chief executive officer of Global Indemnity, where she directed a large team and led efforts to strengthen the company’s operations and product offerings.
In addition to her professional leadership, Valko has been active in industry and community service. In her community, she volunteers with Outreach House, a nonprofit that provides food and clothing assistance to individuals and families in need. With her husband, George Valko, she has established a scholarship to support Juniata students with financial need and endowed the George ’75 and Cynthia ’76 Valko Professorship in Biological Sciences to support faculty excellence.
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2026 Honorary Degree RecipientAmr Abdalla, Ph.D.
Amr Abdalla, Ph.D., is a scholar, educator, and practitioner in the field of peacebuilding and conflict resolution whose work spans more than three decades and multiple continents. A professor emeritus at the United Nations–mandated University for Peace (UPEACE), Abdalla has taught and conducted research on conflict analysis and resolution while helping to shape academic programs in peace studies around the world. Over the course of his career, he has taught graduate courses and led training, research, and evaluation initiatives for peacebuilding programs in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
From 2022 to 2025, he served as Scholar in Residence at Juniata College’s Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. A pioneer in advancing peace and conflict studies in the Arab world, Abdalla has helped launch academic programs, train university faculty, and develop foundational resources for the field. He is the founder of the In Peace Institute and currently serves as senior advisor on conflict resolution for KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights.