On Campus
James McDonald Addresses December Graduates
President and Chief Executive Officer of Allwell Behavioral Health James McDonald '73 was the featured speaker of Muskingum University’s first formal December commencement ceremony, receiving a honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on Dec. 9, 2022.
Dr. McDonald was honored for his impact on the region and the lives of others through his professional accomplishments and his committed volunteer leadership of health, education, and family development organizations.
He has led a 48-year career providing mental health services to Zanesville area residents and has served since 2013 as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Allwell Behavioral Health.
Dr. McDonald serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Genesis Healthcare System and of the Board of Trustees of Zane State College. He is a founder of Forever Dads, whose mission is to encourage, educate, and equip men as fathers to develop positive relationships with their children, family, and community. He is also a founding board member of the Ohio Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families and the originator of Enterprise Community, a cradle to career workforce development project where a child’s potential is not dictated by circumstances.
He earned his Muskingum Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Ohio University.
The December Commencement ceremony recognized Muskingum graduates earning Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Master of Business Information Systems degrees.
Dr. Jim Dooley, the Bill and Martha Lovejoy Professor of Biology and the Director of the Conservation Science program delivered the charge to the graduating class from the Muskingum University faculty.
Reanne Brooks ’22, who earned her bachelor’s degree in public health studies with four minors, delivered the student charge to her classmates.
Cheryl Hetrick Carpenter ’86, Chair of the Board of Trustees, delivered the charge from the Board of Trustees.
Orbit Media livestreamed the ceremony, which is available to view.
