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Who will be the commencement speakers at colleges in Boston and across New England? Here’s an updating list.

Chris Christie, Roger Federer, and Bernie Sanders will all have some wise words for students graduating this year.

By Molly Farrar

May 5, 2024

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The dozens of colleges and universities in Boston are preparing to graduate thousands of students this month at large commencement ceremonies all over the city. A variety of high-profile politicians, artists, and public figures will join the festivities as commencement speakers.

Endicott College: Former Gov. Chris Christie

The former governor of New Jersey Chris Christie will head to Endicott College’s graduation on May 18. He’ll speak at the Beverly school and receive an honorary degree for his leadership and public service, the school said.

Christie ended his bid for president earlier this year, his second try at the nation’s highest office.

Brandeis University: Ken Burns

Ken Burns, known for his nine-part documentary “Civil War,” is an award-winning documentarian who’s covered a variety of facets of American history, from “Baseball” to “Jazz.” He’ll speak to undergraduates at Brandeis University on May 19.

Northeastern University: David Thomas

Northeastern University’s commencement speaker was initially set to be Pamela Melroy, a NASA deputy administrator who has spent 38 days in space.

However, the university announced Saturday that she dropped out of the May 5 event due to an illness. David Thomas, the president of Morehouse College in Atlanta, replaced Melroy as speaker for Sunday’s ceremony.

Harvard University: Maria Ressa

Harvard invited journalist Maria Ressa to speak at their 373rd Commencement on May 23. Ressa is co-founder and CEO of digital news outlet Rappler, which is based in the Philippines. Ressa was one of the two recipients for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her work fighting for freedom of the press.

Boston University: David Grann

David Grann, author of “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” will speak at graduation on May 19, Boston University announced last Thursday. His book was turned into an Martin Scorsese film last year starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. The film was nominated for multiple Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director.

BU’s commencement ceremony made national news last year when Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav was booed and jeered at by graduating students amid the Hollywood writing strike. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Noubar Afeyan

Noubar Afeyan, who received his PhD from MIT in 1987, co-founded Moderna, one of the companies which produced a COVID-19 vaccination in the wake of the pandemic. His company Flagship Pioneering has created more than 100 companies in fields like biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

Afeyan, who is also a former senior lecturer at the school, will give the commencement address May 20.

Boston College: Cardinal Stephen Chow

Stephen Chow, the bishop of Hong Kong, will deliver a commencement address at Boston College’s graduation on May 20. BC said Chow is an advocate for closer relations between the Vatican and China, and he was the first bishop of Hong Kong to visit Beijing in nearly 30 years.

Tufts University: Fiona Hill

Fiona Hill is a former intelligence advisor who specializes in Russian-American relations. According to Tufts, Hill worked under three different presidents as a foreign intelligence advisor. She drew further prominence when she testified to Congress during the first impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Hill will delivery Tuft’s commencement address May 19.

Roxbury Community College: Latoyia Edwards

Latoyia Edwards, an award-winning anchor with NBC10 Boston and NECN, will give the commencement speech at Roxbury Community College May 17. Edwards, a native of Dorchester, has spent nearly 20 years anchoring for the local news channels.

UMass Boston, Bunker Hill Community College: Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll 

Governor Maura Healey will address the graduating class of Bunker Hill Community College on May 23 at MGM Music Hall in Fenway. Her lieutenant governor will speak to University of Massachusetts Boston students the same week, where Kim Driscoll will also receive the Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Service.

Regis College: Alix Dorsainvil

Alix Dorsainvil and her young daughter were kidnapped in Haiti last summer while Dorsainvil was working as a community healthcare nurse. They were abducted from a clinic in a gang-controlled area of Port-au-Prince and were released after 13 days.

Dorsainvil, a New Hampshire native and Regis College graduate, will give the commencement address May 11 and receive an honorary degree.

Bentley University: Joe Preston

Joe Preston, the president and CEO of New Balance, will head to the business school in Waltham to give the undergraduate commencement speech on May 18. New Balance, a Boston-based company, has a successful resurgence, the school said, due to Preston’s initiatives with brand ambassadors and focus on sustainable practices.

University of New England: Sen. Bernie Sanders

Outside of Boston, Senator Bernie Sanders will head to the University of New England in Portland, Maine to speak to their graduates. The third-term independent will headline their commencement ceremony on May 18.

Dartmouth College: Roger Federer

Tennis star Roger Federer will receive an honorary degree from the Ivy League university in New Hampshire and give a commencement speech on June 9. Federer, best known as one of the best tennis players in the world, is also a philanthropist supporting initiatives in his native Switzerland and South Africa.