May 3, 2016 1 min read

A political strategist who graduated in 1993 from California University of Pennsylvania will speak at the school’s commencement Saturday, when more than 900 graduates will receive their degrees.

Vanessa DeSalvo Getz, founder and president of Salvo Strategies in Pittsburgh, was selected as speaker for the 10 a.m. ceremony in keeping with Cal U.’s tradition of inviting distinguished alumni to address graduates at commencements, the university announced.

She began her career in 1992 at the office of the state’s speaker of the House before joining the government relations firm Greenlee Partners as director of special projects and managing director.

Getz also worked between 2000 and 2003 in top positions in the staffs that managed U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s campaigns.

She has been named one of Pennsylvania’s 24 most politically powerful women, and in 2014, she received Cal U.’s Jackman Alumni Award of Distinction.

The Fayette County native has a Cal U. bachelor’s degree in business and marketing and lives in Rosslyn Farms.

She also will speak at the graduate ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, when 320 master’s degrees will be presented. Both events will be held in the Convocation Center.