Commencement 2025: Speaker Nominations

Who is going to address the Class of 2025? You tell us! The annual speaker and honorary degree recipient nomination process has opened so be sure to submit your nomination no later than Friday, October 25.

Nominees may be asked to speak at the main ceremony, to speak at a school or college ceremony, or to be honored without giving a speech. Each selected honoree will be awarded an honorary doctorate, the highest form of recognition Pace University can bestow upon an individual.

We are looking for honorees who exemplify the Pace Community’s values and aspirations, will confer distinction upon the University, and will help enliven and enrich Commencement day.

As you make your nomination, please prioritize potential speakers who will resonate with our graduates and whose personal stories or passions reflect Pace’s mission of Opportunitas.

Ambitious nominations are great; the people of Pace are go-getters, and we will pursue all appropriate nominations. At the same time, please remember we have been most successful with nominees who have a personal or professional connection to Pace, for whom Pace is reflective of causes they advocate, or whose own story reflects Pace’s mission. We also have most luck with nominees who are based near New York City or will have a reason to be here around Commencement.

Nominations will be reviewed by the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Jeff Barnett, PhD, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean for Students, and Joe Sgammato, Director of Executive Communications. The committee includes representatives from our student body, staff, and faculty.

Read President Krislov's September 20 message to the community regarding Commencement 2025 and stay tuned to the Commencement website for more details as we move closer to the big day.