Utica University Announces Founder and CEO of Chobani as 2025 Undergraduate Commencement Speaker

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Utica University Announces Founder and CEO of Chobani as 2025 Undergraduate Commencement Speaker

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, in a Chobani hat and blue vest, smiles at the camera.

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani has been selected as this year’s undergraduate commencement speaker on Friday, May 9, 2025. Utica University has a long tradition of inviting prominent figures who have excelled in their respective professions to serve as our commencement speakers.

As the Class of 2025 prepares to walk across the stage next month, Utica University is excited to announce the commencement speaker for the undergraduate ceremony.

Utica University will also confer upon Ulukaya the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters.

Ulukaya grew up in a Kurdish dairy-farming family in Turkey raising sheep.Immigrated to the United States in 1994 with only a few dollars in his pocket to study English, he visited upstate New York, and was reminded of the small farming villages in Eastern Turkey and immediately knew this region of New York was magical. One day he spotted an ad for a fully-equipped yogurt plant near South Edmeston, had a good feeling, and with a loan from the Small Business Administration purchased the factory in 2005. Where one company had left behind ruins, Ulukaya saw treasure, along with a community of people he could trust.

He created a yogurt recipe that was inspired by his heritage and Chobani Greek Yogurt hit selves in 2007. Over the next five years, Chobani grew into American’s number one yogurt brand.

Describing itself as a purpose-driven, people-first food and beverage company, Chobani produces yogurt, oatmilk and dairy creamers, as well as ready-to-drink coffee under the La Colombe brand. The company prides itself on using food as a force for good - putting humanity first in everything they do. Chobani is known for taking care of its employees, paying an hourly wage well above the federal minimum wage requirements, and giving employees ownership stakes in the company. Their philanthropic efforts prioritize giving back to communities in ways such as working to eradicate child hunger, supporting immigrants and refugees and underrepresented people, honoring veterans, and protecting the planet.

His philosophy of putting people and their communities first has built positive relationships between the company and the people, and brought an international spotlight not only on Chobani’s products, but on Ulukaya’s values-driven leadership style.

Ulukaya is also the founder of the Tent Partnership for Refugees, an international refugee support organization. Tent is made up of over 400 major employers who help refugees in a dozen countries across the Americas and Europe rebuild their lives and achieve long-term economic stability through access to local labor markets.

Among his many recognitions, Ulukaya was named an Eminent Advocate by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and received the United Nations Foundation Global Leadership Award. He was named Council Chair for The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Türkiye Business Council and an SDG Advocate by the United Nations.