This Thursday, Darcy Antonellis, an accomplished businesswoman and Temple University alumna, will be returning to her alma mater as the keynote speaker for the College of Engineering’s Spring 2023 commencement ceremony.

“It’s terrific to return to Temple and our College of Engineering to share in this milestone day with the graduates, their families and Temple’s accomplished community of professors and staff,” Antonellis said.

Currently, Antonellis is a board director for various technology, media and entertainment companies, including Xperi Inc., Cinemark Holdings Inc., Metaverse Acquisition Corp. and Vionlabs Inc.

But, like this year’s graduates, Antonellis got her start at Temple’s College of Engineering with an electrical engineering degree. Before graduating in 1984, she was the captain of Temple Women’s Tennis. 

“Temple’s College of Engineering helped me to develop my own inquisitive appetite and to learn from every conversation,” Antonellis said.

Antonellis demonstrates to the class of 2023 that an engineering degree can lead to a boundless career.

Following her undergraduate education, Antonellis received a Master of Business Administration graduate degree from Fordham University in 1996 and began her professional work.

In her early career, she held various executive positions at CBS, including leadership of network operations in New York and Washington, DC, and for three Olympic Games, which garnered three Emmy Awards for technical production and engineering innovation. 

The former Engineering student also worked in news, being stationed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the Gulf War for CBS News Bureau.

She then served as the president of technical operations and chief technology officer for Warner Bros Entertainment Inc., where she oversaw the studio’s transition to digital operations and led the first Hollywood anti-piracy organization. 

Antonellis has been the division president of Amdocs Media and the chief executive officer of Vubiquity Inc, but most recently, she served as the executive advisor for Amdocs Inc.

Outside her impressive career, Antonellis finds time in her personal life to support causes she cares about. She launched the American Heart Association’s first STEM Goes Red initiative to spark high school girls’ interest in the field and served on the board of Kidsave, a non-profit focused on finding adoptive families for older children. She’s also been a member of the Women’s Tennis Association Global Advisory Council.

For her countless achievements, she’s received proper recognition, including Hollywood Professional Association’s 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award, Multichannel’s Wonder Women Class of 2018, Hollywood Reporter’s Digital 50 List and Broadcasting and Cable’s Technology Leadership Award.

Temple has also recognized Antonellis’s success. In 1998, she was awarded the Certificate of Honor and Impact by Temple Alumni Association.

As she prepares to speak at commencement, Antonellis knows this year’s Owls had a much different experience than her time at the university. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the class of 2023 just as they got started, but they’ve persevered, still managing to achieve their engineering degrees.

“The graduates should be so very very proud of their accomplishments considering what they and many have gone through during the last few years - representing much of their college experience,” Antonellis said.

Antonellis is looking forward to returning to Temple, cheering on the university and city that contributed to her limitless career: “GO Owls and Philadelphia!”