Staff report

Youngstown State University will host three commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday in the Beeghly Physical Education Center.

Alumni speakers Tim Petrey, Sean Jones and Judge Carla J. Baldwin will deliver keynote addresses alongside student speakers Ashley Perry, Cole Burnett and Nathan Johnson.

Petrey will speak during the 5:30 p.m. ceremony Friday for the Williamson College of Business Administration and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Jones will deliver remarks at the 10 a.m. Saturday ceremony for the Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Education, and the Cliffe College of Creative Arts. Baldwin will speak at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony for the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services.

TIM PETREY

Tim Petrey serves as CEO of HD Growth Partners (formerly HD Davis CPAs). Under his direction, the firm has transformed from a traditional accounting practice into a national growth advisory platform recognized for modernizing firm culture and implementing people-centered innovation.

Petrey has been honored among Ohio’s 15 most powerful and influential leaders, the Ohio 500, and the Forbes Top 200 CPAs. He graduated from Youngstown State University in 2009.

SEAN JONES

A celebrated trumpeter, composer and educator, Sean Jones is recognized internationally for his artistry and dedication to advancing jazz education.

Born in Warren, he is artistic director of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, is Artist-in-Residence for San Francisco Performances, is a member of the SFJAZZ Collective, and is artistic director for Carnegie Hall’s NYO Jazz. He is also the Richard and Elizabeth Case Chair in Jazz Studies at the Peabody Conservatory.

CARLA BALDWIN

Elected in 2017 as the first African American woman to serve as judge of the Youngstown Municipal Court, Carla J. Baldwin has established herself as a leading voice in justice reform, community engagement and restorative practice. She has served as administrative and presiding judge since 2018, overseeing both misdemeanor criminal cases and specialized dockets, including Drug Court and Mental Health Court.

STUDENT SPEAKERS

Student speaker Ashley Perry will represent the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services. A dietetics major graduating summa cum laude, Perry has earned President’s List or Dean’s List honors every semester. A non-traditional student and mother, she credits her family’s support and her faith for guiding her academic journey. She will begin her master’s degree in food and nutrition at Bowling Green State University this spring.

Student speaker Cole Burnett will represent the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Burnett graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. As a member of the Sokolov Honors College, he conducted biomechanics research, participated in the BaccMed program and served on the Red Cross Club leadership team. He will attend Northeast Ohio Medical University to pursue a career in medicine.

Student speaker Nathan Johnson will represent the Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Education. Johnson graduates with honors in interpersonal and organizational communication, having completed his degree in just three years. A former student-athlete and intern with YSU Athletics, Johnson plans to continue his studies in the Master of Professional Communication program with the goal of working in Division I sports information.