Elizabeth Anderson ’82 and Carol Daly Cantele ’83, P’15 stand as shining examples of the lifelong impact of a Gettysburg education—leaders who have used their talents, vision, and values to elevate their disciplines and positively influence the world.
Gettysburg College is proud to announce that Elizabeth Anderson ’82 and Carol Daly Cantele ’83, P’15 will receive honorary degrees during the Class of 2025 Commencement exercises in recognition of their extraordinary achievements and lasting contributions to their fields.
Anderson, an internationally acclaimed composer and scholar in electroacoustic music, will be awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Music. Her innovative works have been performed worldwide for more than three decades, and her research and teaching have shaped the evolution of contemporary music and sound art.
Cantele, a legendary Hall of Fame coach and former senior woman administrator in athletics, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in Physical Education. Over three decades, she led Gettysburg’s women’s lacrosse team to three NCAA national championships and inspired generations of student-athletes to achieve excellence both on and off the field. In addition to receiving an honorary degree, Cantele has been selected as the keynote speaker for the Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony.
Honorary degrees are typically awarded at Commencement to individuals whose contributions are outstanding in areas such as the arts, public life and government, humanities and social sciences, and natural and applied sciences.
Learn more about this year’s honorary degree recipients.
Elizabeth Anderson ’82
Anderson is an internationally acclaimed composer, researcher, and educator whose groundbreaking contributions to electroacoustic music have shaped contemporary culture and the global music industry. For more than three decades, Anderson’s innovative compositions—ranging from acousmatic and radiophonic works to multimedia installations—have been performed worldwide. Her artistry is driven by a fascination with the vastness of space and the intricacies of life at the microscopic level, which she translates into immersive sonic experiences.
Her work has earned accolades in prestigious competitions across the globe, including in the United States, France, Brazil, Italy, Czech Republic, and Belgium. A leader in her field, Anderson has received commissions from renowned institutions such as the Groupe de recherches musicales (GRM, France), Musiques & Recherches (Belgium), and La chambre d’écoute (Belgium).
“To be recognized by this remarkable institution is the highest honor an alumna can receive.”
– Elizabeth Anderson ’82
Beyond the concert hall, Anderson has advanced electroacoustic music through teaching and research, developing a pioneering curriculum at the Academy of Soignies in Belgium and publishing influential studies on musical perception in Austria, Germany, France, and Mexico. She is currently a professor at ARTS2/École Supérieure des Arts, Mons, Belgium where she teaches multiphonic acousmatic composition and the semiology of electroacoustic music.
In 2017, Anderson founded the company HearT snc/vof with David Baltuch to promote their music, research, and pedagogy. In 2022, she was elected as a full member of the Class of Arts at the Royal Academy of Belgium.
A 1982 Gettysburg graduate with a degree in music, Anderson went on to earn a Master of Music in composition from the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. She earned a doctorate in electroacoustic composition with Denis Smalley at City University London in 2011.
“At Gettysburg College, students are encouraged to consider their unique talents,” Anderson noted. “From this perspective, the Gettysburg environment fosters the development of multiple skills, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, resilience and adaptability as well as self-confidence, so that graduates can reach for and achieve their dreams.
“This was my experience at Gettysburg College,” she continued. “To be recognized by this remarkable institution is the highest honor an alumna can receive.”
Carol Daly Cantele ’83, P’15
One of the most decorated coaches in college lacrosse history, Cantele’s legacy spans more than 30 years of transformative impact on student-athletes and the College community.
Cantele returned to Gettysburg in 1992, taking over the women’s lacrosse and field hockey programs. She quickly elevated both to national prominence, guiding the field hockey team to 121 wins and five conference titles before turning her full focus to lacrosse and her new role as senior woman administrator. Under her leadership, Gettysburg women’s lacrosse earned 13 Centennial Conference titles and made 21 NCAA playoff appearances, winning three NCAA Division III championships in 2011, 2017, and 2018. She retired in 2022 with 470 career wins—one of the highest totals in NCAA lacrosse history.
Inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2024, Cantele is also a member of the IWLCA Hall of Fame and the Gettysburg College Hall of Athletic Honor. Her coaching accolades include four national Coach of the Year awards and 10 regional honors, along with multiple citations by professional organizations for her leadership and service to the sport.
“It’s truly a full-circle moment for me to return to the place that helped shape who I am today.”
– Carol Cantele ’83
A health and physical education major at Gettysburg, Cantele was a key contributor to the institution’s first-ever national team championship with the field hockey team in 1980. She went on to earn a master’s in physical education at Miami (Ohio) University and coached at Plymouth State University for four seasons before returning to her alma mater.
Beyond the trophies and titles, Cantele is most celebrated for the relationships she built with her student-athletes. Her mentorship fostered confidence, leadership, and resilience—qualities her players carried into successful careers in medicine, law, business, education, and athletics.
“As an alumna and a coach for the past 30 years at Gettysburg College in both field hockey and lacrosse, it’s truly a full-circle moment for me to return to the place that helped shape who I am today,” Cantele said after being selected as the Commencement keynote speaker. “I’m so proud to have the opportunity to address this remarkable class and celebrate their accomplishments as they take the next step in their journeys.”
Commencement exercises will take place rain or shine on Saturday, May 17, beginning at 11 a.m. on the Beachem Portico on the north side of Pennsylvania Hall. For more information about the Class of 2025 Commencement, please visit the Commencement website.
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By Corey Jewart
Photos by Zach Aumen, David Baltuch, and David Sinclair
Posted: 04/28/25