We invite you to recommend a convocation speaker for Case Western Reserve University's Convocation Ceremony in May. We are seeking someone with broad appeal—a speaker who recognizes that a convocation audience is a large group of individuals with diverse values, interests, and concerns.
A suggestion for a convocation speaker should be based on the following considerations:
- Outstanding achievement in an academic field, the arts, business, etc.
- Innovative and creative achievements
- Humanitarian deeds and the degree to which the candidate’s activities have touched various lives
- The extent to which the candidate’s achievement represents sustained efforts throughout their career
- Extent to which the candidate represents an outstanding model for our graduates
- The honor brought to CWRU should the candidate accept the nomination
Lists of nominees will be compiled and shared with university leadership. Please be aware that identifying and securing external speakers is a complex process involving many considerations and requiring a firm commitment on the part of those invited.
Please include with your recommendation a brief identification of the individual being nominated
Rebecca Liebert
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Lubrizol Corporation
Rebecca Liebert is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. She leads the premiere global specialty chemicals company in pursuing its mission to continually innovate, solve its customers’ most complex challenges and deliver sustainable solutions to advance mobility, improve well-being and enhance modern life.
Prior to Lubrizol, Rebecca was Executive Vice President at PPG Industries, a global paint, coatings and specialty materials company. She joined the company in June 2018 leading the automotive OEM coatings business, including the company’s mobility initiatives. Her most recent responsibilities included leading PPG’s global industrial segment, Asia Pacific region oversight, and functional responsibility for global procurement, resin and industrial segment manufacturing.
Prior to PPG, Rebecca served as President and CEO of Honeywell UOP, a leading international supplier to the petroleum refining, gas processing, petrochemical production and major manufacturing industries. During her career with
Honeywell, she also served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, catalyst absorbents and specialties, UOP; Senior Vice President and General Manager, gas processing and hydrogen; and Vice President and General Manager, electronics materials. Prior to joining Honeywell, Rebecca served as President of Reynolds Food Packaging, Alcoa KAMA.
Rebecca began her career as a Development Engineer with Nova Chemicals. She held several positions of increasing responsibility during her tenure at Nova.
Liebert serves as the Chair of OxyChem and on the boards of the American Chemistry Council and the National Association of Manufacturers. She also was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for her leadership in developing and executing innovative initiatives to strengthen and advance the manufacturing industry.
Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky; a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University; and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
Past Speakers
Rebecca Liebert joins a long list of distinguished speakers including:
- Susie Gharib, Anchor and Senior Special Correspondent, Fortune
- Vinton G. Cerf, MS, PhD, Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google
- Michael Osterholm, PhD and Author
- Justin Bibb, Mayor of Cleveland (Law '18 and MGT '18)
- Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League
- William F. Baker (ADL '66, GRS '68 and '72), Emmy Award-winner, past president and CEO of New York Public Television
- Beth Mooney, KeyCorp Chairman and CEO
- Toby Cosgrove, MD, past President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic
- Fred Gray (LAW ’54, HON ’92), celebrated civil rights attorney
- Mark Weinberger (LAW ’87, MGT ’87), EY Global Chairman and CEO
- Barry Meyer (LAW ’67), Retired Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO
- Mohamed Ibn Chambas (LAW ’84), Joint Special Representative of the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur
- Katie Couric, journalist and author
- Peter B. Lewis, Philanthropist and former Chairman of Progressive Insurance
- Julie Gerberding (WRC ’77, MED ‘81), previous director of the Centers for Disease Control