Framingham State Announces Pine Street Inn President and AP White House Reporter As Commencement Speakers

FRAMINGHAM – Framingham State University announced today, February 19, that Pine Street Inn President and Executive Director Lyndia Downie and Associated Press White House reporter and political
analyst Jonathan Lemire will serve as the University’s commencement speakers on Sunday, May 24.

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Downie joined the Pine Street Inn in 1984 and has served as its President since 2000. Under her leadership, Boston’s population of unsheltered homeless individuals has dropped to under 3 percent.

Every day, the Pine Street Inn prepares more than 2,700 meals and assists more than 2,000 homeless individuals.

The organization has 850 homeless tenants in its more than 40 permanent housing facilities and 670 emergency beds in four shelters across Boston.

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“Under Lyndia Downie’s leadership, no organization has done more to assist the most vulnerable population in Greater Boston,” said Framingham State President F. Javier Cevallos. “We are honored to have her address our graduating Class of 2020. I’m certain she will leave them inspired to head out into the world and do good for others.”

The University will present Downie with an honorary degree during the Undergraduate Ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m.

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Jonathan Lemire will speak to students at the Graduate Ceremony, which will begin at 2 p.m.

Lemire is a native of Lowell, and former reporter for the New York Daily News. Today, he serves as a White House Reporter for the Associated Press and a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. He is a graduate of Columbia University and the nephew of Framingham State University Professor Stephen Lemire, who coordinates the Master of Healthcare
Administration (MHA) Program.

“We live in an age of rampant disinformation,” said President Cevallos. “Journalists like Jonathan Lemire are critical to helping the public separate fact from fiction, so that they can make informed decisions. We are so thankful to him for taking time out of his hectic schedule to address our graduate students.”

During the ceremony, the University will present Lemire with an Honorary Degree.

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Photo of Lemire courtesy of the University of Lowell