Diane Nelson, a class of 1989 Syracuse University alumna and president of DC Entertainment, will serve as the keynote speaker at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications convocation ceremony in May.

“She serves as a great role model,” said Newhouse Dean Lorraine Branham. “She is a great person to speak for the speech. She serves as a role model to many and is an example of the type of person that many students wish to become with a highly successful job.”

Nelson will speak at the convocation ceremony, which will be held on May 9 in the Carrier Dome. She is the second consecutive female speaker at the ceremony as Deborah Henretta, group president of global beauty at Procter & Gamble, spoke last year.

“It’s nice to bring in people from the industry and people who have differing majors in Newhouse,” said Branham.

Nelson graduated with majors in advertising and English and is now president of DC Entertainment and president and chief content officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Because of time constraints and difficulties with meeting with a student committee, Branham made the decision to bring in Nelson by herself. Branham said she enjoys including students in the decisions, but she said students often want to get high-priced speakers.

Michael Schoonmaker, chair of the television, radio and film program, said he was very excited about Nelson being the speaker.

“She represents someone who has cross majors in Newhouse,” he said. “She is relatable to the students and sincere when she speaks.”

Schoonmaker echoed Branham in saying that Nelson serves as a great role model.

“I knew her before the decision was made to choose her as the speaker for the convocation and she is a charismatic and great speaker,” he said. “In my opinion, having someone who graduated from Newhouse having more than one major serves as a great role model.”

Published on January 28, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Connor: clried@syr.edu