Personal Health and Wellness Company CFO Ana Wilkowski Will Deliver Commencement Address

Personal Health and Wellness Company CFO Ana Wilkowski Will Deliver Commencement Address

Ithaca College has announced that alumna Ana Wilkowski '95, chief financial officer at Performance Optimal Health, will return to South Hill to serve as the keynote speaker for the college's 131st Commencement. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 17, in Glazer Arena of the Athletics and Events Center.

After earning her B.S. degree in finance from the School of Business, Wilkowski went on to build a career on Wall Street, serving in several roles at global financial institutions including J.P. Morgan. In 2002 she brought her experience in risk management and operational oversight to the co-founding of Performance Optimal Health with her husband, Todd, a 1993 graduate of Ithaca College's physical therapy program in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance.

In the beginning, Performance Optimal Health was focused on orthopedics and sports physical therapy. As the health and fitness landscape evolved, the business expanded to include a team of therapists, trainers, instructors, and coaches to educate, guide, and support clients on how to find balance in their lives in recovery, exercise, stress management, and nutrition.

Over the past two decades, Wilkowski has overseen all aspects of accounting and finance, guiding the organization through sustained growth and an expansion to seven locations across Connecticut and Florida. Her leadership ensures that the company operates with both fiscal discipline and long-term strategic vision - enabling the clinical team to focus on delivering exceptional care.

"Ana Wilkowski is an inspiring alumna whose journey reflects both the strength of an Ithaca College education and the power of embracing opportunity with intention," said Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish. "When I had the chance to hear her story firsthand, I was struck not only by her professional accomplishments, but also by the way she has built a career grounded in purpose, partnership, and care for others. Our graduates will see in Ana someone who has navigated change, taken risks, and built something meaningful, and I know her perspective will resonate deeply with the Class of 2026."

The Wilkowskis have regularly hired Ithaca College physical therapy graduates to work in their organization. They are members of the college's Blue & Gold Society, which comprises leadership donors who provide philanthropic support to create and sustain the Ithaca College experience for students each year.