Andy Masich, President and CEO of Heinz History Center, to Speak and Receive Honorary Degree at Chatham University’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony
Andrew E. Masich, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Senator John Heinz History Center, will be Chatham University’s commencement speaker at the May 3, 2026, ceremony at Highmark Stadium, where he will also receive an honorary degree.
Andy Masich, a commissioner and former chairman of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, is an adjunct professor of history at Carnegie Mellon University, author of award-winning books, and a recognized authority on the preservation and interpretation of history.
Since 1998, Masich has led Pittsburgh’s nationally acclaimed Heinz History Center and its family of museums, which includes the Franco Harris Sports Museum; the Detre Library & Archives; the Fort Pitt Museum; and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, the oldest site of human habitation in North America, located in Avella, PA.
Under his leadership, the Heinz History Center has been recognized for its innovative exhibitions and educational programs, with USA Today naming it the number one history museum in America. The History Center is the largest history museum in Pennsylvania, a proud affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
Masich’s lively lectures on subjects ranging from America’s Native Nations to American innovation have entertained and educated audiences from coast to coast.
He makes regular television appearances on KDKA-TV, including regular features on “Pittsburgh Today Live.” With public television partners at WQED, he has won Emmys for his historical documentaries. He serves as an expert for a variety of national media outlets, including the Associated Press, The New York Times, Travel Channel, and the History channel. His popular “Time Capsule” history minutes can be heard daily on KDKA radio and streamed online as a podcast.
Masich has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and anthropology/archaeology from the University of Arizona, where he also received master’s degrees in history and museum administration. He earned a Ph.D. in history from Carnegie Mellon University. His honorary degree from Chatham will be a Doctor of Humane Letters.