BVU Taps Alumni Leaders to Deliver 2025 Commencement Addresses
Distinguished graduates, Courtney Kemp Anders ’05 and Kevin Pernick ’17, M.A. ’19, to address undergraduate and graduate ceremonies.
Buena Vista University (BVU) is pleased to announce that Courtney Kemp Anders, Vice President of Legal Affairs at Warner Bros. Television, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Commencement speaker.
Anders, a 2005 BVU graduate with degrees in mass communication and corporate communication, brings nearly two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. Based in Burbank, California, she currently provides strategic legal guidance for several high-profile scripted television series at Warner Bros. Television, including projects from acclaimed creators such as Chuck Lorre and Mindy Kaling. Her work supports the creative process behind some of the industry’s most successful shows, helping shape the legal landscape of modern television.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to deliver this year’s commencement address. The education and experience I had during my undergraduate studies at Buena Vista University have been an essential part of the foundation I’ve used to build my career and life over the past two decades,” said Anders. “I look forward to sharing this insight with Buena Vista University’s 2025 graduating class.”
After graduating from BVU, Anders went on to earn her Juris Doctor with honors from Southwestern Law School—an impressive accomplishment made while working full-time in the entertainment industry. Her legal expertise spans production, distribution, contracts, and intellectual property matters for network, cable, and streaming platforms.
“We are proud to welcome Courtney back to campus as our undergraduate Commencement speaker,” said BVU President Brian A. Lenzmeier, Ph.D. “Her remarkable career journey is a testament to her intellect and resilience and the strong foundation a BVU education provides for lifelong professional success. She’s an incredible role model for our graduates.”
Originally from Iowa, she now resides in Burbank with her husband, Robyn—also a 2005 BVU graduate—and their two sons, Bennett and Braedyn.
Kevin Pernick, Ed.D., President, and CEO of a Northwest Iowa community bank, Bank Plus, will address the graduating students of BVU’s graduate programs. Pernick holds a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance (’17) and a master’s degree in organizational leadership (’19) from BVU. He also earned a Doctorate in Education from Creighton University, with a research focus on leadership’s impact on healing within organizations following workplace trauma.
“Kevin exemplifies the leadership, empathy, and lifelong learning we hope to inspire in our graduate students,” said Lenzmeier. “He’s deeply committed to empowering others, and I’m confident his insights will resonate with this year’s class.”
In addition to leading a community bank, Pernick teaches at the Iowa School of Banking and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He and his wife, Jenny—a fellow BVU graduate—have four children, including a recent BVU alumna.
BVU’s graduate Commencement ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, in Siebens Fieldhouse, followed by the undergraduate Commencement ceremony at 2 p.m.
For more details, visit bvu.edu/commencement.