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Class of 2026 to Graduate as Juniata College Commemorates 150 Years
(Posted April 7, 2026)
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HUNTINGDON, Pa.—As Juniata College commemorates 150 years since its founding, the institution will celebrate its newest chapter when the Class of 2026 crosses the commencement stage on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The commencement speaker will be Cynthia Y. Valko, a 1976 graduate of Juniata College, former CEO of Global Indemnity, and veteran insurance industry leader.
Honorary degrees will be bestowed upon Valko and Amr Abdalla, Ph.D., founder of the In Peace Institute and former Scholar in Residence at the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College.
Valko graduated from Juniata in 1976 with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and went on to build a distinguished career in the insurance industry spanning more than three decades. Known for her strategic leadership and ability to guide organizations through periods of change, Valko held senior leadership roles at several major insurance companies. As vice president and chief of staff of Aetna Life and Casualty, she helped lead the company through significant financial growth and organizational transformation. She later served as chief executive officer of Global Indemnity, where she directed a large team and led efforts to strengthen the company’s operations and product offerings.
With her husband, George Valko, MD, a member of the Class of 1975, she has established a scholarship to support Juniata students with financial need and endowed the George ’75 and Cynthia ’76 Valko Professorship in Biological Sciences to support faculty excellence. In addition to her professional leadership, Valko has been active in industry and community service. In her community, she volunteers with Outreach House, a nonprofit that provides food and clothing assistance to individuals and families in need.
Abdalla is a scholar, educator, and practitioner in the field of peacebuilding and conflict resolution whose work spans more than three decades and multiple continents. A professor emeritus and former vice rector at the United Nations–mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) located in San Jose, Costa Rica, Abdalla has taught and conducted research on conflict analysis and resolution while helping to shape academic programs in peace studies around the world. Juniata established an institutional-level exchange partnership with UPEACE in 2022. Over the course of his career, he has taught graduate courses and led training, research, and evaluation initiatives for peacebuilding programs in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
From 2022 to 2025, he served as Scholar in Residence at Juniata College’s Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. A pioneer in advancing peace and conflict studies in the Arab world, Abdalla has helped launch academic programs, train university faculty, and develop foundational resources for the field. He is the founder of the In Peace Institute and currently serves as senior advisor on conflict resolution for KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights.
This year marks the 148th commencement at Juniata College and will celebrate students earning bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees for their undergraduate education and master’s degrees for their graduate education.
About Juniata College Sesquicentennial Juniata College, celebrating its 150th anniversary during the 2025–2026 academic year, has a long tradition of education, integrity, and service. Founded in 1876 as Huntingdon Normal School by Andrew B. Brumbaugh and his cousins, the College has grown from a single classroom above a printshop to a vibrant campus preparing students for lives of leadership, purpose, and meaningful impact. The sesquicentennial year features a range of commemorative events, including lectures, performances, exhibits, and special programs, highlighting Juniata’s history and vision for the future. Learn more at www.juniata.edu.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.