'The Future is Bright': Eastern graduates 900 at 135th commencement

by Michael Rouleau

Willimantic, CT (05/20/2025) — More than 900 undergraduate students from Eastern Connecticut State University crossed the stage at the XL Center in Hartford on May 20, celebrating the University's 135th Commencement Exercises. Degrees were conferred from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Professional Studies, recognizing a diverse graduating class whose accomplishments reflect Eastern's mission as Connecticut's only public liberal arts university.

This year's graduating class hails from nearly all of Connecticut's 169 towns, 22 other U.S. states, and 35 foreign countries. Ages range from 20 to 64, with 26 percent of the class being the first in their families to graduate from college. Sixteen percent are NCAA Division III student-athletes, and three percent attended Eastern on TheDream.US scholarships.

Popular areas of study among the Class of 2025 include business administration, psychology, health sciences, sociology, and communication. Other top majors include criminology, finance, English, art, computer science, and biology - underscoring Eastern's broad liberal arts curriculum and professional degree offerings.

Speaker Grant Tells Graduates to Choose Hope

This year's honorary degree recipient was Mary Grant, a nationally recognized advocate for access and equity in public higher education. Grant currently serves as president of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and has previously held leadership roles as chancellor of the University of North Carolina Asheville and president of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

"I admire so much the mission of this critically important institution," Grant told the Eastern graduates. Like the Class of 2025, she, too, received her undergraduate degree from a public institution with a liberal arts foundation.

To the skills they've developed during their time at Eastern, she said, "These aren't soft skills, they're essential skills - skills that all employers want. You've learned to see the world in all of its beautiful, messy, complex context."

She noted that the Class of 2025 is the first to attend college since the initial shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. "You have resilience, the ability to move forward in the face of uncertainty. In a world that sometimes chooses fear over hope, choose hope."

Grant assured the students that they have the education, the tenacity, a supportive community, and a world that needs them. "You are the future," she said. "From where I'm standing, looking at all of you, the future is bright."

President Ismaili Urges Graduates to Embrace Change

In his address, Eastern President Karim Ismaili commended the graduates for overcoming the trials of college life - late nights, tight deadlines, and moments of doubt - while growing into skilled, confident individuals.

"You've matured, you've discovered new passions, and in many ways, you've changed," he said. Ismaili highlighted the liberal arts foundation the graduates have received, which, he emphasized, "will serve you no matter where life takes you."

He praised the students as critical thinkers, effective communicators, data and information literate, creative problem solvers, and ethical reasoners, calling these abilities essential in today's fast-changing world. "They are your toolkit, your compass, and your advantage."

Encouraging graduates to face the unknown with courage, Ismaili advised: "Some of the most meaningful things in life begin with a step into the unknown." He urged them to stay curious, to be kind to others and themselves, and to use their knowledge in service of something greater.

"In a world driven by speed and performance, kindness is radical," he said. "Stay connected to something larger than yourself leave the world better than you found it."

Senior Class President Reflects on Journey

Senior Class President Felishka Ramirez '25 delivered a heartfelt address to her peers, celebrating not just their degrees, but the journey that led to them. She commended the "Eastern village" and its many dedicated faculty and staff who each played a role in supporting students' growth.

"They didn't just teach us; they invested in us," she said of the faculty and staff. "They taught us how to think critically, how to persevere, and how to believe in the power of our own voices."

She acknowledged the resilience of the graduating class in persevering through their studies and navigating an uncertain world. "We are stepping out into a world that needs our light, our energy, and our talents more than ever."

Board of Regents and CSCU Leaders Offer Congratulations

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, Chair Marty Guay called the event a milestone not only for the graduates, but for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system.

Guay said that the graduates are now among the many thousands of CSCU alumni who are making positive contributions to the state of Connecticut and beyond. "We are proud to count you among our alumni, and we look forward to watching you lead, serve, and inspire."

Aynsley Diamond, vice chancellor for academic affairs at CSCU, acknowledged the uncertainty many students feel as they take their next steps. Drawing on her personal journey, she encouraged students to maintain an open mind and to embrace the possibilities ahead. "Each time you allow yourself to gain more knowledge, the wider the world becomes," she said.

She congratulated the students on their well-rounded liberal arts education, versed in many subjects beyond their major. "You possess a depth of perspective that many do not," she said. "Education is a uniquely powerful possession; it's something that can never be taken away from you."

Alumni Welcome the Class of 2025

Eastern alumna Ellen Lang '81 welcomed the graduates into the University's alumni family, now more than 40,000 strong. "You are now connected to a powerful and supportive network of leaders, changemakers, and lifelong learners," she said, urging the graduates to stay connected to their alma mater. "Your milestones are our milestones. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior."

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