Senator Maggie Hassan and Dr. Melinda Treadwell to Be Honored at 2026 Commencement

Dr. Melinda Treadwell; Photo courtesy of SUNY Geneseo

Senator Hassan; photo courtesy of the Office of Senator Maggie Hassan

Keene State College will recognize two distinguished leaders with deep ties to the State of New Hampshire at its 2026 Commencement ceremonies: United States Senator Maggie Hassan, who will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and Dr. Melinda Treadwell, who will receive the Granite State Award, the College’s highest non‑degree honor. 

Commencement exercises will take place on May 9 on Keene State’s campus, celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 alongside the service and leadership of these honored guests. 

“Senator Hassan and Dr. Treadwell exemplify the very best of public service, leadership, and commitment to New Hampshire,” said Interim KSC President Donald L. Birx, Ph.D. “Through their work, in government, higher education, and civic life, they have strengthened communities across our state and inspired generations of students. We are proud to recognize their lasting contributions.” 

Senator Maggie Hassan has devoted more than two decades to serving the people of New Hampshire. First elected to the New Hampshire State Senate in 2004, she became the third woman elected governor in 2012 and, in 2016, the second woman in state history to serve as both governor and United States senator. As governor, Hassan presided over a period of stable economic growth, launched the award‑winning Live Free & Start program to support startup businesses, expanded access to healthcare through Medicaid expansion, and led efforts to combat the opioid crisis. She was also a strong advocate for public higher education, restoring funding to the University System of New Hampshire and enabling an in‑state tuition freeze. 

As a United States senator, Hassan has continued her bipartisan leadership, helping shape the landmark infrastructure law that delivered critical investments to New Hampshire, including funding for bridge repair and rural broadband expansion. She has worked across the aisle to end surprise medical billing, secured a ninefold increase in federal support for substance use disorder programs, and championed science, technology, and medical research—work that earned her the 2024 Champion of Science Award from the Science Coalition. 

Dr. Melinda Treadwell will be recognized with the Granite State Award, which honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and made significant contributions to the welfare of New Hampshire. A champion of public higher education, Treadwell served Keene State College for more than two decades as a faculty member, academic leader, and ultimately as its 11th president, guiding the institution through a period of profound challenge and change. 

First joining the faculty in 2000, Treadwell went on to serve as dean, interim provost, vice president for academic affairs, and president, modeling resilience and collaborative leadership during the COVID‑19 pandemic and amid shifting demographic and financial realities. Her vision emphasized student success, regional workforce partnerships, and lifelong learning, strengthening both Keene State College and the broader Monadnock Region. Her leadership extended nationally through service with organizations including the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, the NCAA Division III Management Council, and the New England Commission of Higher Education. 

Information about Keene State College’s 2026 Commencement ceremonies is available at http://www.keene.edu/commencement.