Carmel Rep. Delivers Commencement Address

On Sunday, May 3, State Rep. Danny Lopez (R-Carmel) delivered the commencement keynote address during the graduation ceremony for Marian University’s School of Medicine and graduate programs. President Daniel Elsener also conferred on Lopez an honorary doctorate of public service on behalf of the university.

In his remarks, Lopez challenged students to live out the University’s Franciscan values, work collaboratively with others to advance solutions to society’s biggest challenges, and embrace their roles as leaders working to strengthen their cities, state, and nation.

“A willingness to find middle ground is not a character flaw, and a life lived as a series of litmus tests isn’t noble or patriotic,” Lopez said. “It is irresponsible, while openness to reasonable compromise is a sign of maturity, good citizenship, pragmatism toward greater purpose.”

Lopez also reflected on the things that make Marian University exceptional, including its emphasis on applied learning, its commitment to making impact off campus, and its mission to prepare leaders ready to live their faith in service of others.

“The true miracle of Marian University is to turn it into an agent of action, an agent of change, so desperately needed in our city,” Lopez said. “Marian ignites that change by giving license to leaders to live their faith openly, but it simultaneously demands that we constantly examine our convictions and not hide behind them to exclude, to tear down or to seek differences.”

Following his remarks, Elsner conferred on Lopez an honorary doctorate for his decades of leadership across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and for his sustained impact on Indiana’s economic, civic and philanthropic landscape.

“President Elsener and his team at Marian have spent almost three decades redefining what higher education ought to be about, and I am both humbled and honored to be recognized by this incredible institution,” Lopez said.

In addition to serving as a state representative in the General Assembly, Lopez leads Vincam, a Carmel-based firm specializing in public, government and media relations. He previously served as an executive vice president at Pacers Sports & Entertainment and held senior roles in the administrations of Govs. Eric Holcomb, Mike Pence and Mitch Daniels.

Lopez  represents House District 39,  which includes a portion of Hamilton County.