GROVE CITY, Pa. (March 22, 2024) – J. Nicholas Ranjan, federal district court judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania and 2000 Grove City College alumnus, will deliver the commencement address at his alma mater when the Class of 2024 graduates on May 18.

 

A summa cum laude graduate of the College, Ranjan was appointed to the federal bench in 2019. He earned his degree in History and served as the orchestra’s concertmaster during his student days.

 

College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said this year’s graduates would benefit from hearing from Ranjan, who exemplifies the College’s vision, mission, and values.

 

“Judge Ranjan is an extraordinarily talented lawyer who is employing his wisdom, temperament, and commitment to the rule of law to serve the public of this region. He is a credit to the legal profession and Grove City College, and we are proud and honored to have him speak to our graduates,” McNulty said.

 

Ranjan, of Allison Park, Pa., was one of Pittsburgh’s legal stars when he was nominated for the federal bench by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 10, 2019.

 

He is a cum laude graduate of University of Michigan Law School, where he served as a note editor of the Michigan Law Review. He began his legal career serving as the Simon Karas fellow with the Ohio Solicitor General and then served as a judicial clerk to Judge Deborah L. Cook of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. For the next 14 years, Ranjan practiced at the international law firm of K&L Gates LLP in its Pittsburgh headquarters, first as an associate and then as an equity partner. His practice focused on complex commercial litigation, appellate litigation, and domestic arbitration.

 

Ranjan has been recognized by Chambers USA, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Litigation Counsel of America, Pittsburgh Leadership Conference and Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. But his most prized honor was twice accepting the Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award for the recruitment of middle school mentors. In his spare time, he is a mentor to middle school students, a rec league basketball player and an accomplished violinist and composer.

 

Grove City College’s 144th Commencement is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18.

 

The College will hold its Baccalaureate service at 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, with Dr. Kurt Bjorklund, senior pastor of Orchard Hill Church in Wexford, Pa., speaking to the Class of 2024.

 

A graduate of Wheaton College, Trinity Divinity School, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Bjorklund is a gifted speaker and author. He has led the Orchard Park congregation since 2005 and under his leadership, the church has grown substantially. His teachings can be heard on Pittsburgh area Christian radio and television.