Palmer Theological Seminary is pleased to welcome Rev. Dr. Charles "Chaz" Lattimore Howard as the May 14, 2026 commencement speaker. He serves as the University Chaplain and Vice President for Social Equity & Community at the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater.
Over his three decades at Penn, he and his team have worked to curate a dynamic, nationally recognized spiritual and religious community on and around campus. In addition to his responsibilities as Chaplain, Chaz has provided leadership to a range of campus initiatives through his role as one of Penn's Vice Presidents. He has taught in Penn’s College of Arts & Sciences and their Graduate School of Education. He has also taught at United Lutheran Seminary and recently at Eastern University through the Prison Education Program.
His writing has been featured in publications such as Sojourners Magazine, Daily Good, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Huffington Post, The Christian Century, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Forward, Democratic Left, and Slate. He is the author of six books, including, most recently, Pond River Ocean Rain: Finding Peace in the Storms of Life, Uncovering Your Path: Spiritual Reflections for Finding Your Purpose, and the forthcoming Holy Calling, Human Heart: A Devotional Companion for Life in Ministry.