The University of Dayton will award an honorary doctorate of science at the May commencement ceremony to Lori Beer, a 1989 University of Dayton computer science graduate who now is the global chief information officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

"The University of Dayton is proud to honor Ms. Beer, who has demonstrated strong, values-based leadership in positions of significant influence," University President Eric F. Spina said. "UD is proud of our association with Ms. Beer, and we hold her up to our graduates as the kind of leader we hope they aspire to be as graduates of a Catholic and Marianist university."

Beer is responsible for JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s technology systems and infrastructure worldwide, and manages a budget of more than $12 billion and more than 53,000 technologists supporting JPMorgan Chase's retail, wholesale and asset and wealth management businesses.

Beer has been recognized as a leader across the technology, healthcare and finance industries as a top CIO, IT leader, and champion for women and diversity in business by numerous organizations, including ComputerWorld, Barron’s, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, American Banker and Orbie. Beer also serves on the New York board of Teach for America.

Spina noted that Beer is passionate about inspiring, motivating and supporting women and members of under-represented groups in STEM fields. With Bill, her husband, she has endowed a scholarship at UD to benefit a Flyer Promise student pursuing a degree in an engineering or other technology field. The scholarship honors Bill's parents; Bill '88 and his father, William '61, are UD alumni. 

Read more about Beer's accomplishments here.

“Thank you, President Spina and the UD board of trustees, for this honorary doctorate. I truly am honored. UD is where I learned how to be a software engineer and holds a special place in our family, as this is where my husband and I met,” Beer said. “I’m grateful for the experiences that UD provided – they served as the foundation for my career and instilled principles in leadership that have carried through my journey, such as the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. I look forward to continuing to work with UD to help to bridge the STEM gap among women and people from underserved communities.”

She will receive the honorary doctorate at the University's undergraduate commencement ceremony at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, May 8, in University of Dayton Arena. Law students and master's and doctoral students will graduate in separate ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., respectively, Saturday, May 7, also in University of Dayton Arena.

The University will hold its baccalaureate Mass at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in UD Arena as well.

For complete information about University of Dayton graduation ceremonies, visit graduation.udayton.edu.

For more information, interviews and a headshot of Beer, please contact Shawn Robinson, associate director of news and communications, at srobinson1@udayton.edu.