Our very own Dr. Shannon Burger recently returned to her alma mater, Tennessee Wesleyan University, in Athens, Tennessee, to deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2025 summer graduates.
A 2005 TWU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in finance, Dr. Burger has since become a licensed Certified Public Accountant, earned an MBA from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, and a doctorate in healthcare administration from The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“Being asked to give a commencement speech to my fellow graduates at TWU was an incredible honor,” said Dr. Burger. “Graduation is such an important milestone for many, and being able to share a few words of advice with those graduates while celebrating their accomplishments is something I’ll always remember. I am very grateful to TWU’s President, Dr. Tyler Forrest, for giving me that opportunity.”
Drawing from her own journey since graduating from TWU, Dr. Burger reflected on her deep family connection to the university, noting that her mother, father, aunt, and grandfather also walked the same campus paths.
Central to her message was a challenge to graduates to discover and protect their “why”—the personal mission that fuels meaningful work and enduring impact.
“My ‘why’ is to be a fearless innovator, empowering others to challenge the status quo, ignite bold solutions, and make the impossible possible,” she shared. “Life will test your why, but if you hold true, you won’t just create a career, you’ll create a legacy.”
Dr. Burger outlined three lessons she credits with shaping her career:
1. Let your work serve something greater than yourself. “Be the person who notices what others overlook. The quiet advocacy, the unrecognized effort, the extra mile when no one is watching, those are the moments that build a legacy.”
2. Be bold, especially when it’s uncomfortable. “Growth doesn’t live in comfort. The discomfort of courage is worth more than the ease of regret.”
3. Be brief, be bright, and be seated. “It’s not about saying less, it’s about saying what matters, lighting the path for others, and then making space for them to step forward, because real influence isn’t about filling space, it’s about adding value.”
Closing her remarks, Dr. Burger encouraged the graduates to look beyond titles and résumés toward lasting contribution.
“Find your ‘why.’ Live with conviction. Lead with purpose. When the road feels uncertain, and trust me, it will, remember that making the impossible possible isn’t magic. Take the risks that matter, build bridges that last, and write a story worth telling long after you’re gone — that’s how you build a legacy.”
Watch Dr. Burger’s full commencement address here, beginning at the 15-minute mark.
