Massillon Mayor Katherine Catazaro-Perry will address graduates, their families and friends at Stark State College’s commencement exercises Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The class of 765 degree recipients is a record for the College.

Catazaro-Perry graduated with distinction in earning an associate degree in nursing from Stark State in 1995 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business management from Malone University. Prior to her election as Massillon’s first female mayor, she served as executive director for the Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children and has worked as a nurse as well as director of Aultman’s weight management program and Doctors Hospital’s wound healing center. She served on Massillon City Council for six years.

As part of her professional involvement in the community she has been a member and officer of many organizations, including the Health Foundation of Greater Masillon, the Perry Rotary, Stark County Library Foundation, Massillon Boys and Girls Club, Perry Library Partners, Community Health Foundation and Massillon Chamber of Commerce.

Catazaro-Perry was named to the Stark State College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2010. She also has been named a Citizen of the Year for the Ohio Library Council, a Perry Rotarian of the Year and a Perry Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.

The title of her commencement address is “The Journey.”