Mary-Ann Baldwin Announced as William Peace University Commencement Speaker

Former Raleigh Mayor to speak at Peace commencement in May

Raleigh, NC (03/12/2025) — Former Raleigh mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin will be the 2025 Commencement speaker at William Peace University, the school announced on Wednesday.

Baldwin, a William Peace University Board of Trustees member, served two terms as mayor of Raleigh, first elected in 2019 and then re-elected in 2022.

"Having served on the Board of Trustees at William Peace University since 2017, I am obviously committed to the school, the students, and the faculty," Baldwin said. "It means a lot to me to have the University in the heart of our city and, as a neighbor, to see and experience the energy that our diverse group of students bring. I'm excited to speak at graduation because I want to inspire the students to live their dreams and to be all they can be. And my hope is that by sharing my story, they leave graduation day believing that anything is possible."

She serves as the Vice Chair of the Go Triangle Board of Trustees, along with her duties at William Peace University. She also serves as Executive Director of the Cooper Charitable Foundation, a non-profit providing housing stability grants to those in need.

Baldwin, a native of Pawtucket, RI, was first elected to the Raleigh City Council in 2007 and served five terms. She was the Chair of the Safe, Healthy & Vibrant Neighborhood Committee, Vice Chair of the Economic Development & Innovation Committee, and the council's liaison to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. Previously, Baldwin was the executive director of the Holt Brothers Foundation, which supports children who have a parent with cancer, and was executive director of the Carolina Hurricanes Kids 'n Community Foundation.

Baldwin earned her undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Rhode Island, working as a journalist and editor before entering the marketing/communications field.

About WPU

Founded in 1857, William Peace University is a regionally ranked institution in Raleigh, NC - one of U.S News' Best Places to Live - serving more than 750 students in 30+ undergraduate and 10 professional programs in criminal justice, education, business administration, and more.

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Mary-Ann Baldwin

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