On Campus
Former Human Resources Executive for AT&T Harold Burlingame ’62 to Deliver Commencement Address
Muskingum University Trustee Emeritus and former AT&T Executive Vice President of Human Resources Harold (Hal) Burlingame ’62 will serve as the principal speaker at the University’s May 2025 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10.
Burlingame spent more than 40 years with AT&T, where he served in a number of roles including Executive Vice President of Public Relations and Employee Information. He also served as Executive Vice President of Human Resources where he led AT&T’s Corporate Policy Initiative during the transition from the Bell System, preparing senior executives for monumental changes, and, during years of restructuring, led a national process with more than one million employees. He also pioneered policies and programs for childcare, elder support, and sabbatical leaves that were soon adopted by employers worldwide.
He is the President of the Innovation Resource Center for Human Resources, a non-profit founded in 1926 by John D. Rockefeller that works to advance the knowledge and practice of human relations in organizations. He also is a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources, an Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Hall of Excellence inductee, and recipient of a Muskingum Doctor of Humane Letters degree and an Alumni Distinguished Service Award.
A University Board of Trustee member since 1985, Burlingame became an at-large member of the Executive Committee in 1987, Vice Chair in 1992 and Chair in 1994. He served the board as Chair for more than 25 years and then remained on the Executive Committee as Chair of External Relations until his recent retirement from the board in April 2025.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication. During his time at Muskingum he founded the University radio station WMCO in 1961. Serving as WMCO’s first station manager, he recruited a pioneering staff of 40 students.
Muskingum University’s May commencement is preceded by the annual Baccalaureate program at 10 a.m. in Brown Chapel immediately followed by a hooding ceremony for students earning their graduate degrees. The commencement ceremony, held in the Steele Center, will be livestreamed beginning at 2 p.m. at https://www.youtube.com/OrbitMediaTV.
