Graceland Announces Spring Commencement Speaker

Graceland’s 2022 Commencement Speaker is the President and CEO of the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. Dr. Matthew Naylor will address Graceland’s Spring 2022 graduates on Sunday, May 1st.

In Dr. Naylor’s time as President of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, attendance has increased by more than 60 percent in the past 2 years. He also aided in the effort to formally establish the institution as America’s National World War I Museum. He was then appointed as Commissioner to the United States World War I Centennial Commission and named Nonprofit PRO’s Executive of the Year in 2018.

Naylor earned his PhD from Curtin University in Perth, Australia. He serves on boards and committees for several civic and educational initiatives, including the advisory council for the Kansas City Economic Development Corporation, the advisory board for the National Stars and

Stripes Museum, and the board of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy.