Tulane Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Announces 2026 Commencement Speakers

Two distinguished alumni will return to Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine to deliver keynote addresses at the school’s 2026 commencement ceremonies, offering graduates perspectives shaped by leadership, service, and impact.

Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge Health, will speak at the Master’s and Doctoral Ceremony at 12pm on Saturday, May 16. Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women, will address graduates at the undergraduate ceremony earlier that day at 8:30am.

Both speakers bring decades of experience advancing health, equity, and community well-being.

Meltzer, a 1981 graduate of Tulane’s Master of Health Administration program, has spent nearly 38 years with LifeBridge Health, including 13 years as CEO. Under his leadership, the Maryland-based nonprofit health system has grown into a $2.2 billion organization, doubling in size through strategic expansion while maintaining a strong focus on community-centered care.

His work reflects a broad view of health that extends beyond clinical services. Through initiatives like the Center for Hope, LifeBridge Health has become a national model for integrating services to prevent and respond to violence, including gun violence and domestic abuse. The system has also expanded access through partnerships with community organizations and innovative programs such as AffirmCare, an LGBTQIA+ patient clinic, while strengthening medical education through a Regional Medical Campus with George Washington University.

Meltzer’s leadership has earned national recognition, including being named the Baltimore Business Journal’s 2026 “Executive of the Year.” He has also been honored as a Most Admired CEO, an Influential Marylander, and Tulane’s “Alumnus of the Year.” He currently serves on several national and regional boards and continues to contribute to public health leadership at the highest levels.

Arline-Bradley, who earned her Master of Public Health from Tulane in 2001, has built a career at the intersection of public health, advocacy, and faith. As president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women, she leads efforts focused on health equity, policy, and community empowerment nationwide.

She is also the founding principal of R.E.A.C.H. Beyond Solutions, a firm that provides strategic guidance on public health, diversity, equity and inclusion, and organizational leadership. Her previous roles include serving in the Obama administration as senior advisor and director of external engagement for U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, as well as leadership positions at the NAACP.

A nationally recognized advocate, Arline-Bradley has contributed to numerous organizations advancing health and social justice. In 2024, she became the youngest keynote speaker for the Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service, reflecting her growing influence as a national voice for equity and community-centered leadership. In the same year, she also was one of 25 women to be named “Women Who Mean Business” by the Washington Business Journal, an honor bestowed upon women who are considered the most influential business leaders in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. 

Together, Meltzer and Arline-Bradley represent the breadth of impact possible through public health—from health system leadership to national advocacy—offering graduates a powerful reminder of the role they can play in shaping healthier communities.