Yunn

MARIETTA – A 2006 graduate of Marietta College will be the keynote speaker Saturday at the 189th commencement of Marietta College, the school has announced.

Alumna Megs J. Schreck Yunn will address the Class of 2026 and their families at exercises beginning at 1 p.m. in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center at Marietta College.

“Megs embodies the Pioneer spirit through her leadership, compassion, and commitment to serving others,” Marietta College President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty said. “Her work reflects the enduring values of this institution and the far-reaching impact of our graduates. We are proud to welcome her back to campus to inspire the Class of 2026 as they begin their next chapter.”

A graduate of the college’s Communication and Media Studies program, Yunn was Student Senate secretary, participated on the forensics team, theater productions, cheer team and held leadership roles within the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Yunn was also a McDonough Scholar and worked in the McDonough Leadership Program and the Office of Admission as a campus tour guide, all of which helped shape her leadership style and passion for communication and advocacy.

Yunn said her Marietta College experience shaped her personal development and professional path, an influence that has had a lasting impact.

“It’s truly an honor, especially as I approach 20 years since graduating and having once stood on that stage as a Jewett speaker,” Yunn said. “To return in this capacity is humbling and feels like a full-circle moment. My time at Marietta helped shape my confidence and voice, which I used often. I was given the opportunity to take ownership of my time at Marietta, and that sense of ownership is something I carry in my professional work today.”

Yunn received an MBA from Point Park University at Pittsburgh and began her career in communications before returning to Marietta as an instructor and assistant forensics coach for one year. She has remained engaged with the college and with faculty such as Professor Emerita Mabry O’Donnell and others who mentored her as a student.

She also was recognized as an Outstanding Alumna by the Marietta College Alumni Association Council in 2014.

Yunn is the founder and executive director of Beverly’s PGH, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and strengthening families through its three core areas of impact: birthdays, babies and basics. Inspired by a young girl who had never experienced a birthday celebration, Beverly’s PGH was built on the belief that celebration is essential.

The organization connects families to resources, provides goods and creates moments of joy and dignity for those navigating challenging circumstances. Since founding the organization in 2012, Yunn has guided its growth to a $3.3 million nonprofit serving approximately 30,000 children and families each year in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Beverly’s PGH has raised more than $15 million and built partnerships across healthcare, human services, philanthropy and corporate sectors. Her work has received national recognition, including being named a Hometown Hero on Good Morning America and an Inspiring American on NBC Nightly News and Yunn was the Alpha Xi Delta’s 2019 Woman of Distinction Award at the sorority’s national convention.

Yunn hopes to leave the Class of 2026 with a simple, but lasting thought.

“I hope everybody gets to live with a happy heart,” Yunn said.

Doors on Saturday open at 11 a.m. to the public. Tickets are not required and commencement will be livestreamed.

For more information, go to marietta.edu/commencement.