Georgetown Announces Graduation Speakers for the Class of 2022 and 2020
Georgetown has invited 11 speakers to speak at this year’s commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2022 and the Class of 2020.
The 71st U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, and Sr. Norma Pimentel, a social justice leader and one of TIME Magazine’s most influential people, are among those scheduled to speak at commencement from May 19-29.
Georgetown will hold individual graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2022 for each of the undergraduate and professional schools as well as award celebrations on campus. The university is also hosting commencement ceremonies to celebrate the Class of 2020 and provide an opportunity for graduates to reconnect after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed their traditional commencement ceremony. Ceremonies will be held for both undergraduate and graduate students.
The events begin with senior convocation and the McCourt School of Public Policy commencement ceremony on May 19 and end with the baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2020 on May 29.
“We are honored to have this distinguished group of speakers address our Class of 2022 and Class of 2020 at our Commencement ceremonies this year,” says Georgetown President John J. DeGioia. “Each has demonstrated a commitment to excellence, service and justice in our world and we look forward to engaging their perspectives and experiences as we honor our graduates and welcome our Class of 2020 back to campus.”
Students, family, faculty, alumni and friends can follow commencement activities online, including live webcasts. Visit the 2022 Commencement website and the 2020 Commencement website for information about how to share memories, pictures and words of wisdom with these graduating seniors and alumni.
Commencement Speakers, Honorary Degree Recipients
Cecilia Muñoz
Senior Advisor at New America
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McCourt School of Public Policy
Thursday, May 19, Healy Lawn, 5:30 p.m.
Watch the McCourt School webcast
Robert Bullard
Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Graduate School Commencement
Friday, May 20, Healy Lawn, 9:00 a.m.
Watch the Graduate School webcast
Shaun Harper
Provost Professor of Education and Business and Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership of the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business; Executive Director of the USC Race and Equity Center
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
School of Continuing Studies (SCS)
Friday, May 20, Healy Lawn, 12 p.m.
Watch the SCS webcast
Mohammed Dewji (B’98)
President, MeTL Group; Founder and Trustee of the Mo Dewji Foundation; Board Member of the McDonough School of Business
McDonough School of Business (MSB)
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Friday, May 20, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the MSB webcast
Timothy Shriver
Chairman of the Special Olympics
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Georgetown College
Saturday, May 21, Healy Lawn, 9:00 a.m.
Watch the Georgetown College webcast
Sr. Norma Pimentel
Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
School of Nursing & Health Studies (NHS)
Saturday, May 21, Healy Lawn, 2 p.m.
Watch the NHS webcast
Antony Blinken
U.S. Secretary of State
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS)
Saturday, May 21, Healy Lawn, 5 p.m.
Watch the SFS webcast
Dr. Eric Goosby
Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine; Faculty Director of the Center for Global Health Delivery, Diplomacy and Economics at the Institute for Global Health Sciences
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Sunday, May 22, DAR Constitution Hall, 11 a.m.
Watch the School of Medicine webcast
Sherrilyn Ifill
President and Director-Counsel Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Laws
Georgetown University Law Center
Sunday, May 22, Healy Lawn, 2 p.m.
Watch the Law Center webcast
Rashad Robinson
President of the Color of Change
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Class of 2020 Undergraduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 28, Healy Lawn, 9 a.m.
Watch the Class of 2020 Undergraduate webcast
Dr. Mark Dybul (C’85, M’92, H’08)
Senior Advisor for the Center for Global Health Practice and Impact
Class of 2020 Graduate and Professional Ceremony
Saturday, May 28, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the Class of 2020 Graduate and Professional webcast
*Times are noted in Eastern Standard Time.