Go Forth, Be Brave, and Lead with Love

Cheers to the Class of 2025! I hope everyone – newly minted alumni and their families, students, staff, and faculty – are settling in for a quieter week in the wake of our biggest celebrations of the year. 

Busy though it is, Commencement Weekend is my favorite moment in the year. It is full of joy, reflection, and excitement for what’s next. As university president, I get to celebrate with nearly every graduate on their well-earned diploma; at the hooding ceremonies for each of our graduate and professional schools, at our annual baccalaureate service, and during our Commencement ceremony on Hearn Plaza. 

Over three days we hosted nine ceremonies – a true marathon! One of the truly special parts of commencement weekend was sitting and listening alongside our graduates to the remarkable speakers invited by the university to impart their wisdom. 

I always learn something from each speaker throughout Commencement Weekend, but Reverend Emma Jordan-Simpson’s words at Baccalaureate have really stuck with me. In her sermon, she urged all of us gathered in Wait Chapel – and especially the Class of 2025 – to lead with love. She emphasized that love is more than an expression of emotion; it is an action. The love we are shown and guidance we are given by trusted family, friends and mentors helps us to realize that our accomplishments should always serve a purpose greater than ourselves. It was a powerful reminder that leaders help others bridge the gap between what is and what can be.

When I delivered my commencement address the following morning, her words were still fresh in my mind. As I asked the Class of 2025 to live courageously, I looked out into a crowd of faces and knew that I was looking at a group of bold, impactful leaders. Leaders who have everything they need to make a positive impact on their communities, on our society, on the world. Leaders who could lead with love, no matter what challenges they may face. 

As Scott Pelley reminded us in his address, we do not get to choose the time we are given to lead in; history chooses us. I believe that each of our graduates are prepared to  take the next steps in their life journeys  – to lead with love and to live with courage. 

I hope that is what we will all choose. 

Congratulations once again to the Class of 2025, and I wish everyone a wonderful summer.