PHILADELPHIA, May 16, 2018: Harold T. Epps, Philadelphia’s Director of Commerce, who has led efforts to increase economic development through collaborative workforce partnerships that reduce the city’s poverty rate, will deliver the 2018 Commencement speech at Peirce College’s June 11th graduation exercises.

Epps will address graduates at the College’s 153rd Commencement Ceremony, to be held at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts in Center City Philadelphia at 6:45 P.M.

Over the past several years, Peirce and the Department of Commerce have solidified deep ties through their overlapping missions to ensure more Philadelphians are able to earn life-sustaining wages and educational credentials that qualify them for career opportunities.

“Our graduates are a critical part of Philadelphia’s continued economic development,” said Peirce’s new President and CEO, Dr. Mary Ellen Caro, who will be presiding over her first Peirce Commencement. “We help students gain the credentials and skills they need to succeed in the workforce and we are thankful for leaders like Harold, who ensure opportunities throughout the region await them”

Epps, a former executive at PRWT Services with more than 30 years of corporate experience, has helmed the Department of Commerce since 2016. As Director of Commerce, he oversees and implements policies to help both small businesses and major corporations in Philadelphia thrive. He has played a leadership role in the city’s bid for Amazon HQ2; the creation of the new citywide workforce development initiative, “Fueling Philadelphia’s Talent Engine;” and efforts to increase minority-owned business contracting opportunities.

“Peirce College is a valuable partner in realizing the Department of Commerce’s vision of a highly skilled, well-prepared, diverse, and inclusive workforce,” Epps said. “I am honored to address the Peirce Class of 2018 and look forward to seeing how these graduates positively impact our city and our workforce.”

Nearly 300 students, most all of whom are working adults, will graduate from Peirce in 2018.

About Peirce College

Founded in 1865, Peirce College has been providing working adults with affordable education, flexible classes, and personalized support for more than 150 years. Peirce offers bachelor and associate degree programs in the areas of Business, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Legal Studies, and Master of Science degrees in Healthcare Administration and Organizational Leadership & Management. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Peirce is a non-profit institution that specializes in serving the unique needs of working adults through both online and on campus education. In 2015, Peirce took life-friendly learning and degree attainment to the next level with the creation of Peirce Fit®, a revolutionary learning format that allows students to choose each week whether to attend class in person or online. Through competency-based education in Peirce’s IT program, students may also choose a faster, more affordable path to a degree. Peirce College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). Additionally, select programs are accredited by The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the American Bar Association and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.

For more information about Peirce College, call 888.467.3472, or visit www.peirce.edu. Visit Peirce’s blog, Peirce Connections, at blog.peirce.edu. Become a fan of Peirce College on Facebook. Follow @PeirceCollege on Twitter. View the Peirce College YouTube Channel.

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