“Listening is the companion verb to caring. When I listen, I connect, I understand, I affirm the dignity of another. Doesn’t mean we agree, or don’t argue, quite the contrary, to truly disagree, I need first to listen. Through listening, we uphold our common humanity and our commitment to democracy that is at the heart of our human enterprise, of …

“Because in a world increasingly marked by polarization, the ability to engage across difference, to think deeply and critically, and to uphold the dignity and worth of all people is not optional, it is essential. And so as you forge your way in this world I urge you to remember and carry with you the values of this institution—values I …

“In America, colleges and universities are anchor institutions for our democracy, providing private value, of course, empowering you as graduates to pursue productive careers and meaningful lives, but they also are a public good, providing you with the knowledge and understanding to be active, engaged, responsible citizens in our diverse democracy. I am trying to paint a larger picture for …

“As a society, we find ourselves in a time of deep polarization. Our empathy for others is not just in decline – it’s in free fall. Compromise is a lost art. Constructive dialogue—real, human interaction—feels increasingly rare. Too many of us have retreated into our own political and cultural silos. We surround ourselves only with the voices that echo our …

“Macalester, and across the whole higher education sector, we have a powerful opportunity and a unique responsibility to prepare students to engage with and tend to our democracy as a core part of our educational mission. The world may seem especially challenging right now, but confronting complex problems is what a liberal arts education teaches people how to do. Despite …

“You are now part of a long, proud tradition of colleges and universities asking hard questions, supporting free expression, and studying democratic values while simultaneously strengthening them. That remains at the heart of a Kenyon education, and it is exactly what a healthy democracy needs. You have played an important role thus far, becoming informed citizens, embracing difficult conversations, and …

“In a world so often divided by speed and certainty, you have practiced something much rarer: curiosity across difference. You have found common cause in labs and lounges, in late-night debates and in early-morning breakthroughs. You have shown that pluralism is a practice. You leave here not just with valuable skills, but with an almost sacred responsibility. To not only …

“We believe in a world where discovery and democracy are partners, where rigor serves compassion, and where knowledge walks hand in hand with humility. That belief is what keeps us working shoulder to shoulder to sustain the values that higher education must continue to protect and strengthen. It calls us to challenge ourselves and each other to think expansively, to …

“The world you are entering is complex. It’s fast changing and it’s full of challenges, but it is a world that you can help define and lead if you face it with courage, with curiosity, with conviction, and most importantly, with compassion for those around you. Never forget that kindness to others is a virtue and a choice. Generosity of …

“There’s no doubt that you are graduating into a divided world. During your years here, colleges and universities have had to find ways to allow for free expression and diversity of thought to co-exist, to allow for hard questions asked in thoughtful ways, and to make sure that democracy is not only studied, but strengthened. It’s hard work, and we …

“Use the powerful ability to weave critical thinking and creating problem solving together to communicate effectively, especially to people who see the world differently than you. So many Denison alumni, old and young, remarked to me how Denison taught them to write and communicate. This faculty gave you that gift, use it to weave words together so that others can …

But education is also a public good, providing value to society far beyond your own benefit. Economists have shown the very tangible benefits of an educated workforce in their communities. The Nobel Laureate, Amartya Sen, documented how educating mothers in rural India produced huge benefits for children, boys, and especially girls throughout their villages. The founder of classical economics, Adam …

“You know how to listen—really listen—to voices different from your own, and how to hold space for ideas that challenge you. You know that the most important questions don’t have simple answers.” See more from the 2025 Colorado College Commencement.   Colorado College was one of seventy campuses participating in From Campus to Community a new national campaign to champion …

“While you enter a society marked by division and uncertainty, you are not the first to do so and you will not be the last…During your time at Hendrix, you have wrestled with hard questions about justice, truth, leadership, and purpose. You have learned that disagreement is not something to fear or avoid—it is a call to deeper understanding. You …

“Your traverse of the stage today is the road the world needs to follow. You prove the possible. The 64% of Americans who have lost confidence in higher education have not met you. You face and surmount the toughest issues. Just look at the thesis titles in the program today, from commerce to carbon, housing to health. Many of you …

“Practicing education is like practicing democracy—both are collaborative, experimental paths of improvement, both depend on inclusion rather than segregation. And both are now very much endangered. If we don’t defend education and protect democracy we will lose them as vital parts of our American heritage. Beware of those who are afraid of those experiments; stand up against those who fear …