Mount St. Mary’s University will welcome Gracelyn McDermott, C’93, vice president for marketing, sales and business development at Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, as the speaker for the 217th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 10. McDermott will be honored with a doctorate of humane letters in recognition of her service to the university and the regional and state communities.
“Gracelyn’s life experiences offer valuable lessons for the Class of 2025 as they graduate,” said President Jerry Joyce, Ph.D. “She is a shining example of someone who leads a life of significance.”
The second woman and first African American to lead the 31-member Mount St. Mary’s University Board of Trustees as chair from to 2021 to 2024, McDermott oversaw a period of growth at the Mount that included the establishment of the School of Health Professions. She became a trustee in 2013 and served as vice chair from 2016 to 2020.
At Kaiser, McDermott is a leader of a health care provider and nonprofit health plan that serves over 750,000 members and generates $6 billion in revenue. Her overall professional career includes sales, operations and information technology leadership in the health care field. Prior to joining Kaiser, McDermott served as vice president of accrediting and client services at URAC, an independent health care accrediting organization, and director, specimen administration for Ameritox, LLC., formerly a leader in pain medication monitoring.
A member of Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2018 and the 2024 Leadership Class of Greater Washington, McDermott also holds a certificate from Harvard University's Executive Leadership Program. She is a member of the board and former chair and vice chair for the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and a member of the boards of the nonprofit organizations Vehicles for Change and Excellence in Education Foundation for Prince George’s County Public Schools.
After graduating from the Mount as an honors student with an undergraduate degree in international studies and Spanish, McDermott earned an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.
She gives generously of her time and talent to the university, including participation in the inaugural Alumni of Color Panel dinner in 2019 and a webinar for alumni on health care. She received the Academic Circle of Excellence Award, which recognizes distinguished Mount alumni who are leaders in their communities or their chosen professions, in 2017. McDermott lives in Glenn Dale, Maryland, with her husband. They have two daughters.