Ground-breaking academic leader and Syracuse University School of Education alumna Linda M. LeMura G’83, G’87, will join a distinguished scientist and educator, a physician and healthcare innovator, a pioneering entrepreneur, a distinguished public servant, and a transformative national leader in higher education when she receives an honorary degree at the 2026 Commencement on Sunday, May 10.
Recognized along with LeMura, President of Le Moyne College, will be Dr. Ruth Chen, Professor of Practice in biomedical and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. Mantosh Dewan, President, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, and the Alan and Marlene Norton Presidential Chair at Upstate Medical University; Clifford J. Ensley ’69, ’70, G’71, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Leisure Merchandising Corporation; Joanne M. Mahoney ’87, L’90, President of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; and Kent Syverud, the 12th Chancellor and President of Syracuse University.
Recipient of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, LeMura has built a career defined by groundbreaking leadership, scientific excellence, and an unwavering commitment to educational equity and access.
LeMura graduated from Bishop Grimes High School as a three-sport athlete and honors student. She earned both a master’s degree (1983) in Physical Education and a Ph.D. (1987) in Applied Physiology from the School of Education, where her academic training laid the foundation for a distinguished career.
Her research in pediatric obesity, pediatric applied physiology, and lipid and energy metabolism has produced more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, two books, and 26 externally funded grant proposals. She has served as a research consultant for both the US and Italian Olympic committees. She has consistently included students as co-investigators and co-authors in her work, highlighting her work as a mentor and a commitment to the next generation of scientists.
After serving as a professor, research scientist, and graduate program director at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, LeMura joined Le Moyne College in 2003 and held leadership roles as Dean of Arts and Sciences and Provost before making history in 2014 as the first female layperson to serve as President of a Jesuit institution of higher education in the US.
Her appointment opened pathways for women’s leadership across Jesuit higher education, with 10 additional women now serving in presidential roles at Jesuit institutions.
Under her leadership, Le Moyne has raised roughly $200 million, achieved eight consecutive years of record enrollment and led the college’s strategic transition to NCAA Division I athletics as a full member of the Northeast Conference.
LeMura co-chairs the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council. She was actively engaged in the Central New York’s efforts to bring Micron’s microchip manufacturing facility to the area and has aligned Le Moyne to the resulting workforce demand through new semiconductor-focused programs and the college’s ERIE 21 partnership with Micron.
She holds board positions with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and the International Association of Jesuit Universities. Her awards include the 2023 Syracuse University Tolley Medal, selected by the School of Education; the 2019 Syracuse Key4Women Achieve Award; the 2017 Temple Adath Yeshurun Citizen of the Year Award; the 2017 Bishop’s Award from the Diocese of Syracuse Catholic Charities: and recognition as a 2016 New York State Senate Woman of Distinction.
The relationship between Syracuse University and Le Moyne College has grown in collaboration during LeMura’s presidency through joint academic initiatives, community engagement projects, and shared commitments to excellence.