Cornerstone University Welcomes Edward Graham as 2025 Commencement Speaker
Countdown to Commencement has begun for the graduating Class of 2025! Cornerstone University is honored to announce Edward Graham, chief operating officer of Samaritan’s Purse, as the distinguished commencement speaker for its 83rd ceremony on May 10, 2025.
“Graham, a former U.S. Army veteran and global leader in humanitarian and spiritual aid, embodies Cornerstone University’s mission to share the gospel and serve the world,” said Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, president of Cornerstone University. “His message will inspire our graduates and guests to pursue and create Christ-centered solutions that will serve humanity and shape the future through the gospel’s transformative power.”
“I am honored to be the commencement speaker at Cornerstone University this spring,” Graham shared. “I admire the school’s standard of educational excellence, but most importantly, they are committed to helping students grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. I look forward to challenging the Class of 2025 to go into the world as bold witnesses for the gospel.”
In his role at Samaritan’s Purse, Graham oversees both domestic and international operations, leading disaster relief efforts and coordinating lifesaving aid to those in need. Though his influential career is one of service on an international scale, historic hurricane Helene brought devastation to western North Carolina, the home of Samaritan’s Purse.
Graham and Samaritan’s Purse played a leading role in rapid response ministry and aid, bringing national attention to their remarkable relief operations in affected sites in Florida, Georgia, and the mountainous regions of North Carolina and Tennessee, where communities were devastated by widespread loss.
Cornerstone is excited to welcome Graham back to campus where he was so well received. He participated in Cornerstone University’s Wisdom Conversations March 2024 event, “Christianity and Its Global Impact: Commission or Colonialism?” The event drew over 700 campus and West Michigan attendees.
He will bring to his graduation charge a similar gospel-first perspective to career, ministry and life that he offered in March: “But the most important part of the good Samaritan is that there’s a debt paid, and that’s the blood of Jesus Christ,” Graham stated. “So what good is the church if it’s just doing good works? That’s not what we were told to do. It’s to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Graham’s leadership has also proved pivotal in addressing major global crises, including the war in Ukraine, the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He has worked closely with key leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable populations.
Before joining Samaritan’s Purse, Graham served 16 years in the U.S. Army, including multiple deployments with Special Operations. His dedication to service and his calling to ministry in 2018 mark a profound journey of faith and leadership. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Graham brings a unique perspective on leadership, sacrifice, and faith-driven impact.
Graham is the grandson of Billy Graham and son of Franklin Graham. Graham and his wife, Kristy, along with their four children, reside in the mountains of North Carolina, continuing the legacy of faith and service established by his family.
Please join us in welcoming Edward Graham as we honor the Class of 2025 on May 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Bernice Hansen Center’s Mol Arena and celebrate the next generation of Christ-centered leaders.
For more information and schedule of events, visit cornerstone.edu/commencement.