Independence Blue Cross CEO Gregory E. Deavens to Receive Honorary Degree from Manor College and Serve as Commencement Orator

Deavens will become the third person to receive an honorary degree from the institution

Manor College is proud to announce Gregory E. Deavens, the CEO and President of Independence Blue Cross (IBX), as our 2024 Commencement Speaker. The institution’s ceremony takes place on May 16, 2024, on the college’s campus

In addition to serving as Orator, Deavens will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Manor College. He joins NBC10 Philadelphia’s Tracy Davidson (2023) and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2022) as the only recipients of an honorary doctoral degree from Manor.

“We are elated that Greg Deavens will be our Commencement Orator,” Dr. Jonathan Peri, Manor College President, said. “He is a remarkable leader and CEO of one of the nation’s largest leading health insurers. Greg works to effect change on a systemic scale, with focused attention on areas of equity. His vision is positively transforming our society, addressing historic and contemporary challenges to build a brighter, healthier future.”

Deavens became President and CEO of Independence Cross in January 2021, four years after joining the company as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer.

During his career, Deavens has been named to Savoy magazine’s Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America, Philadelphia magazine’s Most Influential People in Philadelphia and Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare, among other honors.

In addition to his work at Independence, Deavens is Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia. His two-year term will begin in October. He has been a member of the Chamber’s Board and Executive Committee since 2021 and currently chairs the Policy, Legislative and Research Committee.

Deavens also serves on the boards of Alegeus Technologies, America’s Health Insurance Plans, BCS Financial Corporation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Hartford HealthCare, National Institute for Health Care Management and Quartet Health. In addition, he serves on the PNC Bank advisory board (Philadelphia Region) and as a commissioner for the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission and the America 250PA Commission. He is a trustee of the Barnes Foundation, on the board of directors of the African American Museum in Philadelphia and an honorary trustee of the Amistad Center for Art & Culture. He also served on the transition leadership board of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

Deavens earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida A&M University. He and his wife, Beverly, have three adult children.

Manor College’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony takes place at Manor College on Thursday, May 16, 2024.