Holy Family University to Honor Theologian Ilia Delio

Read Holy Family University’s full announcement here.

Holy Family University will grant two honorary Doctors of Humane Letters at its 2026 commencement ceremony on May 16. Sister Ilia Delio, OSF, Ph.D., a Franciscan Sister of Washington, D.C. and a professor of theology at Villanova University, will be recognized at the undergraduate ceremony and will serve as its keynote speaker. The Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, MGA, FAAN, immediate past president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation and vice president of Community Affairs for Independence Blue Cross, will be recognized at the graduate ceremony and will serve as its keynote speaker.

“We are looking forward to welcoming these two women whose lives and work have been consistent with Holy Family’s mission and core values,” says Anne Prisco, Ph.D., Holy Family University president. “Sister Ilia’s ability to explain the significance of the impact of science on religion and culture and the importance of loving relationships to advance our understanding of one another as human beings addresses the very heart of who we are as a community. Reverend Lorina Marshall-Blake’s dedication to the healthcare professions, particularly nursing, and the graciousness with which she has shared her knowledge and experience present our students with a wonderful example as they embark on the next stage of their lives’ journeys.”