AIC to hold 123rd Commencement
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| E. David Wilson will give the keynote address |
SPRINGFIELD--The former president of a major toy manufacturer, the president of a local community college and an Egyptian educator will be honored at commencement exercises at American International College.
E. David Wilson of Wilbraham, the longtime president of the Hasbro Games Segment, will deliver the keynote address at the ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, May 18, 3:00 p.m., in the MassMutual Center.
William F. Messner, president of Holyoke Community College will receive an honorary doctor of higher education degree.
Hassan El Kella, First Undersecretary, Curative Care Sector, Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt, will also be recognized, in absentia. Dr. El Kella will receive an honorary doctor of higher education next month in Cairo.
Wilson began his career in the toy industry in 1969 with General Mills where he held various sales and marketing positions. From 1972 to 1980, he served as vice president of sales for Parker Brothers Games.
In 1980, Wilson joined Milton Bradley as manager of the Games Division and in 1990, was named president of Milton Bradley. From 1995 through June of 1997, he served as president of Hasbro Games Group, and in July 1997 he was named president, Hasbro Americas. In 1999, Wilson was named President of Hasbro Games, where he oversaw the manufacturing, sales and marketing of all Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Canada products sold in North America. In 2004, he was promoted to executive vice president, Global Development and President, Hasbro Games Segment.
Wilson is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and is a member of the American International College Board of Trustees and was also a Board member of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. He is a past member of the Governor’s Board of Economic Advisors.
Wilson, 70, is a member of the AIC Board of Trustees. Wilson's Hasbro career began in 1972 when he joined Parker Bros. as vice president of sales. After holding various management positions at Milton Bradley in the 80's, he was named president of MB in 1990. Since 1999, Wilson has led Hasbro Games as its president, and in 2004 he was promoted to president, Hasbro Games Segment and executive vice president of Global Business Integration.
Messner has had an outstanding and impactful career in higher education. Beginning as a history instructor at Keystone College in La Plume, Pennsylvania, he progressed up the academic ladder as dean and subsequently as vice president and dean of the college at the same institution over a period of 15 years. He moved on to SUNY Orange as vice president for academic affairs and quickly was named president there for the next ten years. He served for a brief period as vice provost of the SUNY system followed by a seven -year tenure as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges in Madison, Wisconsin.
Since 2004 he has served as president of Holyoke Community College where he has emphasized strategic long-range planning, campus expansion, increased partnerships with community and regional organizations, and has undertaken the largest capital campaign in the college’s history.
El Kella founded and chaired Futures Foundation for Education Training and Development, and was instrumental in establishing the AIC campus in Cairo.
Futures Systems for Education represents an economically viable, center, of excellence while being a replicable model for education in Egypt.The system educates around 10,000 students from KG – G12. It also addresses the needs of different Egyptian social and economic groups by offering a diverse system of education, Egyptian, French, German, American and British.
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