Tag: commencement

Barbara Kingsolver, American author Duke University Durham, North Carolina May 11, 2008 Barbara Kingsolver – author of contemporary fiction, poet, and activist – writes stories about human resilience in harsh conditions. Here, she delivers a message of retaining hope in the face of massive environmental issues with poetic and ardent language. The very least you… Continue reading Barbara Kingsolver, Duke University, 2008

Dr. E. O. Wilson, environmental research professor University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina May 8, 2011 Dr. Wilson was a research professor and museum curator at Harvard University who changed the way humans think about nature with his work in the fields of entomology, animal behavior, evolutionary psychology, island biogeography, biodiversity, environmental ethics,… Continue reading Dr. E. O. Wilson, University of North Carolina, 2011

Stephen Colbert, comedian and political commentator Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois June 17, 2011 Stephen Colbert, 1986 “graduate” (you’ll see) of Northwestern University, is an American comedian who got popular with his alter-ego, Stephen Colbert, on his comedic political commentary show, The Colbert Report. Since 2015, Colbert has hosted The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Northwestern… Continue reading Stephen Colbert, Northwestern University, 2011

Barack Obama, former U.S. president Barnard College New York City, New York May 14, 2012 President Obama was a 1983 graduate of Columbia College, Barnard’s big brother. He later graduated from Harvard Law School and found a career in public service, leading to his 2008-2016 two-term presidency. In this speech, Obama addresses the all-women’s-college crowd… Continue reading Barack Obama, Barnard College, 2012

Neil Gaiman, author and graphic novelist University of the Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 17, 2012 Neil Gaiman is an English award-winning author and graphic novelist who writes for all ages and without genre constraints – though many of his fans are fantasy and science fiction lovers. This speech, urging these artists to boldly practice their… Continue reading Neil Gaiman, University of the Arts, 2012

George Saunders, author and professor Syracuse University Syracuse, New York May 11, 2013 George Saunders is an American writer of short stories, essays, novellas, and children’s books. A professor at Syracuse, Saunders has received both a MacArthur Fellowship and the PEN/Malamud Award, lauded for his compassionate and humorous stories of moral dilemmas and humanity. These… Continue reading George Saunders, Syracuse University, 2013

Tim Minchin, musical comedian University of Western Australia Crawley, Australia September 17, 2013 Tim Minchin, an Australian alum of UWA, has won worldwide acclaim as a composer, lyricist, comedian, actor, and writer. Drawing on his comedic chops, Minchin opens his speech with a declaration of the meaninglessness of life. He delivers nine tidbits of life… Continue reading Tim Minchin, University of Western Australia, 2013

Billy Kenoi, past mayor of Hawai’i County Hawai’i Pacific University Honolulu, Hawai’i May 21, 2014 Billy Kenoi (1968-2021) was the beloved mayor of Hawai’i County from 2008-2016. He speaks about the drive and hard work that it takes to accomplish the achievement of graduating from university. He tells the graduates how it was not advantages… Continue reading Billy Kenoi, Hawai’i Pacific University, 2014

Jim Carrey, celebrated actor Maharishi University of Management Fairfield, Iowa May 30, 2014 Jim Carrey is an actor and comedian of tremendous range and intellect, a man who turns himself inside out for his audiences, who embraces the opportunity of being entirely yourself while profoundly honoring the needs of others. True to his reputation as… Continue reading Jim Carrey, Maharishi University, 2014

Messengers of the Era Right away, commencement speakers face a dramatic challenge: addressing the attitudinal transformation of their audience over these last few years. As our future becomes increasingly dark, many students feel that we their parents and grandparents, have fostered almost irredeemable catastrophes; we have failed environmentally, politically, socially, morally, and spiritually. Even our… Continue reading Inspirational Commencement Speeches: 1936 to 2022