Grand Marshal
Tanisha Wright
Tanisha Wright became a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State and was named a First-Team USBWA All-American. She ranks fourth in school history for most points scored, scoring 1995 points over her 134 games with the Nittany Lions. Wright spent 10 years with the Storm, where she helped lead the team to nine straight playoff appearances and a WNBA Championship in 2010. In the WNBA, Wright played with the New York Liberty (2015-2016) and Minnesota Lynx (2018) and rejoined the Liberty in 2019 before announcing her retirement. Wright is entering her third season as head coach of the Atlanta Dream, boasting over 14 years of WNBA experience. In her first season, she led the team to 14 wins, a record for the best start to a coaching career in Dream history. Wright aims to foster player growth and integrity within the Dream while advocating combating housing insecurity, financial and economic empowerment, and bolstering causes that support binuclear family relations, guardianship, and extended caregivers.
Honorary Grand Marshal
Gregory Drane
Gregory Drane, originally from Miami, Florida, holds bachelor’s degrees in music education and music performance from Bethune-Cookman University. He earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Penn State. Dr. Drane currently serves as the director of the Marching Blue Band and Athletic Bands at Penn State. In this role, he oversees various aspects, including the Pride of the Lions pep bands for basketball, volleyball, and hockey. He is also involved in marching band design and instruction, conducts the Symphonic Band, and teaches music courses for non-majors. Dr. Drane’s research interests focus on Black American contributions to music education, leadership in the music classroom, and historical music ensembles, with his dissertation titled “The Navy Band B-1: The First All-Black Navy Band of World War II.”
Alumni Court
The Penn State Homecoming Alumni Court is a group of individuals who continue the legacy and traditions of Penn State post-grad. The selected court members will be honored throughout the week of Homecoming. If you have any questions please feel free to email Alumni Relations Director at alumnihomecoming@psu.edu. We Are!
Past Marshals
GM: David Taylor
HGM: Molly and Eric Barron
GM: John Colaneri
HGM: Brian Patchcoski
Alumni Panel featuring past Grand Marshals and Honorary Grand Marshals
GM: Farnoosh Torabi
HGM: Paul and Martha Sharkey
GM: Lisa Salters
HGM: Troy Alesi
GM: John Urschel
HGM: Scott Shirley
GM: Joel Myers
HGM: Raquel Ross
GM: Keegan-Michael Key
HGM: Ian Rosenberger
GM: Lara Spencer
HGM: Michael Paul
GM: John Amaechi
HGM: Anne Ard
GM: Terry and Kim Pegula
HGM: Mimi Barash Coppersmith
GM: Adam Taliaferro
HGM: Coquese Washington
GM: Allison Baver
HGM: Jeff Fisher
GM: Valeroe Plame Wilson
HGM: Rick Bryant