Fall 2025 Commencement speakers
Morning - Dr. Mary Anne Hanner
Dr. Mary Anne Hanner is from Oakland IL. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from EIU with majors in Communication Disorders and Sciences. She earned a doctorate from Indiana State University. Dr Hanner worked as a school speech language pathologist for 9 years before returning to EIU as a faculty member also serving as the clinic director, department chair and retired as Dean of the College of Sciences in 2011. Volunteerism is an important part of her retirement having served on the Boards of the EIU Annuitants Association and the EIU Alumni Association. She is also president of the Oakland Hindsboro Charitable Foundation. Mary Anne is managing partner of a consulting firm, Academy Solutions. She was named an EIU Alumni Association Distinguished Alumna in 2014 and as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the EIU Foundation in 2016.
Afternoon - Joe Gardella
Gardella is the CEO of Sweetener Supply Corp, a family-owned business his father and a close friend started in 1990. As CEO, Gardella has led organic and geographic growth, making Sweetener Supply one of North America's premier food ingredient suppliers. He also is the founder and managing partner of Spyglass Properties LLC. Gardella had pledged to support Eastern Illinois University by establishing Sonny's Scholarship in 2024 in recognition of his father. Gardella also had pledged to fund the renovation of McAfee Gym into a volleyball-centric arena, with modernization plans already in place. He was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity and is currently re-establishing a new Sigma Pi house for the EIU chapter to relocate to. Gardella is proud to have had one of his daughters, Paige, join the EIU family as she started the MBA program last fall and joined the women's volleyball program as the assistant coach. He is equally proud of Paige’s twin sister, Jessica, who has joined Spyglass Properties LLC and will help oversee the renovations for the Sigma Pi house and the recently purchased University Village. Gardella is an avid golfer and boater and adores spending time with his wife, Leta.