Head of Marvel Comics and Franchise Dan Buckley ’89 Returns to His Origin Story as St. Lawrence University’s Commencement Speaker
St. Lawrence University will welcome Dan Buckley ’89, head of Marvel Comics and Franchise, as its 2026 Commencement speaker. The proud Laurentian and global entertainment innovator will also receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree during the May 16 ceremony.
Associate Professor of Psychology Megan Carpenter will also address the Class of 2026 and the late Danny Fay—owner and operator of the much-beloved Hoot Owl, former teacher and county legislator—will posthumously receive the North Country Citation.
Dan Buckley ’89
As the leader of Marvel’s comics and franchise divisions, Buckley oversees the storytelling and brand strategy behind one of the world’s most iconic creative universes. Throughout his career, he has helped shape Marvel into a global cultural force, bringing to life characters and stories that have inspired generations and defined popular culture for more than 85 years.
Buckley grew up in Fort Edward, New York, and he majored in economics and played basketball at St. Lawrence. While earning his MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management, he studied in Japan—an experience that deepened his connection to the comics industry and broadened his global perspective.
He joined Marvel in 1991 and steadily rose through the organization. After a period leading The Radiate Group, a marketing subsidiary of Omnicom, Buckley returned to Marvel as publisher and went on to play a key role in advancing Marvel Entertainment’s expansive growth into new spaces, including landmark moments in comics, bestselling video games, innovative digital media, and award-winning live-action and animated programming across Marvel’s divisions.
Buckley’s return to campus highlights the power of a St. Lawrence education to launch graduates into influential roles across industries—from global entertainment to business and beyond.
“What makes Dan’s story especially meaningful is that it begins right here and continues to include St. Lawrence. Dan has served as a career mentor to students and regularly supports our career networking program,” says University President Kate Morris. “His path reflects the creativity, adaptability, and ambition that define a St. Lawrence education, and his perspective will resonate deeply with our graduates as they prepare to take their next steps.”
Megan Carpenter
Associate Professor of Psychology Megan Carpenter earned her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2015. Before joining St. Lawrence in 2018, she served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Puget Sound, teaching in both the Psychology Department and the Gender and Queer Studies Program. At St. Lawrence, she teaches courses such as Introductory Psychology, The Psychology of Human Sexuality, and the Psychology of Gender. She also teaches a First-Year Experience course about the global history of love, and a First-Year Seminar course about the science of attraction and relationships.
Her research examines the impact of social power on sexual strategies, the development and expression of gender and sexuality norms, perceptions of bisexuality and sexual fluidity, and college faculty experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also engaged in ongoing research on inclusive pedagogy, sexual fluidity, and interventions to increase girls’ involvement in math fields.
Danny Fay
For decades, Danny Fay welcomed Laurentians into the old train station he and Bill Helmer transformed into a bar in 1970, greeting students, parents, and alumni with good humor, a warm heart, and the kind of steady presence that made the Hoot Owl a rite of passage. That same spirit infused his life beyond the bar. A Clarkson graduate with both an undergraduate and master’s in accounting, Fay spent more than five decades teaching at SUNY Canton, where his chalk-dusted sleeves, real-world lessons, and genuine care shaped thousands of students. He built and renovated homes through Hoot Owl Enterprises, served the region on numerous boards, and was a longtime county legislator— always working quietly but tirelessly to make the North Country a better place. Fay died Sept. 13, 2025, at the age of 81. His daughter, Kelley Fay Glasgow, will accept the North Country Citation in recognition of Danny’s outstanding contributions to the St. Lawrence and the community.
