DALLAS, Pa. — Donovin Lindsay, nonprofit founder, educator and college-access advocate, has been named the spring 2026 commencement speaker at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Lindsay earned a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Penn State Wilkes-Barre in 2014 and a master’s degree in psychology of leadership from Penn State World Campus in 2021.
The spring commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 9, at 9 a.m. in the Athletic and Recreation Building on campus. It will also be livestreamed.
"Coming back to Penn State Wilkes-Barre as the commencement speaker means everything to me,” Lindsay said.
“This campus is where I became who I am. I walked these halls, worked in nearly every department on campus, gave hundreds of tours as a Lion Ambassador, and sat in the same seats these graduates are sitting in today,” he said.
As a student, Lindsay was highly involved in campus leadership, orientation programs and student organizations, devoting his time and talent to the campus, his peers and future Penn Staters. He held numerous roles in the Lion Ambassadors organization, Blue and White Society, Student Government Association and Students for Justice Club throughout his time at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, in addition to his involvement in other clubs and organizations and on various committees. He also worked part-time in multiple departments and served as a New Student Orientation (NSO) leader and an orientation leader during Welcome Week.
After graduating, Lindsay held roles in Major League Gaming and at Camelback Resort before returning to Penn State as an employee. He served as assistant director of admissions at Penn State Altoona and Penn State Harrisburg for more than five years.
Lindsay founded and leads numerous education-focused ventures and serves as president and chief visionary officer of College Knowledge Foundation (CKF), a nonprofit that provides free and low-cost college access resources to underserved students and families. CKF comprises a team of volunteers who are Penn State students and alumni; since its inception, the nonprofit has reached thousands of students and provided internships to more than 125 Penn Staters. He also operates a career consulting business, a motivational and leadership-focused speaking organization for students and young professionals, and runs College Swipe, a platform that brings a unique, gamified experience to the college search process.
Outside of running his own businesses, Lindsay works as a recruiter at JDS Staffing, specializing in talent acquisition for GE Aerospace. He also hosts a podcast, “Untapped: Knowledge for College,” and holds active leadership roles in numerous organizations, both at Penn State and out in the community.
A life member of the Penn State Alumni Association, he was the 2025 recipient of the Alumni Association’s Martin R. Cepeda, Jr. Award for Alumni Career Advancement and Development, a distinction that recognizes professionals who have given their time and talents in service to Penn State students and the growth and advancement of Penn State alumni.
Lindsay said that returning to deliver the spring commencement address is a full-circle moment — one he does not take lightly.
“The student who once sat where they are sitting is now the one at the podium,” he said. “Penn State Wilkes-Barre gave me a foundation, a community and an environment that never told me what I couldn't do. Being invited back as the commencement speaker is one of the greatest honors I have received, and I plan to show up for these graduates the same way this campus showed up for me."