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- This event has passed.
Colby College’s 201st Commencement
May 22, 2022, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
FreeCome celebrate as the Class of 2020 receive their diplomas! The approximately 540 members of the class came to Colby from 36 states and 23 countries. They will go on to a broad range of careers and to graduate or professional schools to study law, education, finance, medicine, environmental research and advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and much more.
Pulitzer Prize winner and National Humanities Medal recipient Isabel Wilkerson, author of the best-selling book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, will deliver the commencement address. Published in 2020 to critical acclaim, Caste describes America as an artificial and hierarchical caste system that influences people’s standing in society, how they are treated and perceived by others, and whether they have access to resources that will improve their lives. The book is being developed into a Netflix film.
Wilkerson and six others who have also made important and meaningful contributions through their professional pursuits, commitment to community, and generosity of spirit will receive honorary doctoral degrees:
- Maulian Dana, Penobscot Nation ambassador and an advocate for Maine’s indigenous people
- Michael Gordon ’66, Colby College trustee, cofounder of investment firm Angelo Gordon, and arts philanthropist
- Ana Rowena Mallari, cofounder of QuestBridge and education advocate for low-income students
- Eric Rosengren ’79, chair of Colby's Board of Trustees and retired president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
- Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Jamie Wyeth, renowned painter and American art icon
Commencement is open to the public with general admission seating. Standing room will also be available on Miller Lawn. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m., and usually runs about two hours. We suggest arriving around 9 a.m. if you would like a seat.
In the case of extreme weather, the ceremony will be moved inside, and students will have the opportunity to invite three guests. Should the forecast indicate that waiting to begin the ceremony would allow for it to be outside, it is possible the College could move the time to later in the day. Commencement will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.