Last Friday, the University announced the distinguished alumni who will speak at the University’s 107th commencement. Class of 1981 graduate Candace Sheffield Matthews will deliver the keynote address at the main ceremony on Sunday, May 16 at 11 am in Gesling Stadium.

The president of Soft Sheen-Carson, a leading manufacturer of ethnic beauty products, Matthews is a native of New Brighton, Pennsylvania and the youngest of 18 children. The alumna received her bachelor’s in metallurgical engineering and administrative & management science from Carnegie Mellon. She later earned her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

In 2001, following marketing jobs at such well-regarded corporations as Coca-Cola, Bausch & Lomb, Proctor & Gamble, and General Mills, Matthews became president of Soft Sheen-Carson, Consumer Products Division of L’Oréal. Her extensive involvement in the beauty care business as well as the African American community qualified her for the job. She cites innovation and technology as her top priorities for the company, whose brands include Beautiful Beginnings, Breakthru, Dark & Lovely, Magic Shave, and Optimum Care.

Though Matthews now lives in Crete, Illinois — with husband Bruce and twin daughters Sydney and Simone — she is still a strong presence in the Carnegie Mellon community; she was the recipient of the 2003 Alumni Merit Award and sits on the University’s Board of Trustees. Additionally, she belongs to the Stanford School of Business Advisory Council and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, was awarded the 2003 Clark Atlanta University Spirit Award, and has been featured in Black Enterprise, Ebony, Essence, Glamour, Jet, Marketing Week, and Savvy Professional magazines. Matthews is frequently identified as one of today’s most powerful female corporate leaders.

Other notable alumni will be present at individual schools’ commencement ceremonies: Elijah E. Cummings, chairman of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus, will speak for the Heinz School on Sunday, May 16 at 2 pm at Temple Rodef Shalom; also at 2 pm at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Larry Kurzweil, president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk, will speak for the Tepper School of Business.

The University has not yet released the titles of the speeches. Ceremonies will proceed as scheduled, rain or shine.