News Summary
Rhode Island College has revealed its commencement speakers for the upcoming ceremonies in May 2025. George Nee, former AFL-CIO president, will speak at the undergraduate ceremony, while Princess Sirleaf Bomba, director of equity at The Wheeler School, will address advanced degree recipients. Both will receive honorary Doctorate degrees. Additionally, several other Rhode Island institutions are also organizing their commencement events featuring notable speakers, highlighting local contributions and achievements.
Providence
Rhode Island College has announced that George Nee, the former president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, will serve as the commencement speaker for the undergraduate ceremony on May 17, 2025. Nee, an alumnus of Rhode Island College, held the union presidency for 15 years before his retirement in 2024. The undergraduate ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, beginning at 10 a.m.
Additionally, Princess Sirleaf Bomba, a fellow Rhode Island College alumna and director of equity, community, and belonging at The Wheeler School, will deliver the address for the advanced degree ceremony. This event will take place on May 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. within the Murray Center on the college’s campus. Both Nee and Bomba will be awarded honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters degrees during these ceremonies.
Honorary Degree Recipients
Rhode Island College will also honor four other Rhode Island residents with honorary degrees at the commencement events. These recognitions highlight the contributions of local individuals to their communities and the state as a whole.
Other Commencement Ceremonies Across Rhode Island Colleges
Rhode Island College is among many institutions celebrating graduations in the state. For instance, Johnson & Wales University will feature Greg Cook as the keynote speaker on May 3, 2025, for both its graduate and undergraduate ceremonies. New England Institute of Technology will host a commencement ceremony on May 4, 2025, with Charlie Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts, as their speaker.
The University of Rhode Island will also recognize its graduates with ceremonies ranging from May 15 to May 19, 2025, during which honorary degrees will be awarded to several outstanding individuals. Meanwhile, Roger Williams University has planned its commencement for May 16, 2025, featuring speakers Cole Brauer and Judge Clifton B. Newman.
Other institutions participating in the commencement season include Bryant University, which will have David Beirne speak at its undergraduate ceremony on May 17, 2025, while Martha Wofford will address the graduate students on May 15, 2025. Salve Regina University has scheduled its undergraduate ceremony for May 18, 2025, featuring Cody Keenan as the speaker.
Notable Speakers at Other Institutions
Providence College will also conduct commencement ceremonies on May 16 and 18, 2025. Judge Frank Caprio will speak at the undergraduate events held on May 18, while Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox will address graduates on May 16. Furthermore, Brown University will emphasize the importance of student voices during its commencement on May 25, 2025, featuring speakers Nkéke Harris and Aliza Kopans. Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix will deliver the baccalaureate address on May 24, 2025. Lastly, Rhode Island School of Design has announced Rose B. Simpson as its commencement speaker for May 31, 2025.
Conclusion
As commencement season approaches, Rhode Island College and numerous other institutions are preparing to celebrate the achievements of their graduates with distinguished speakers and honorary degree recipients. This year’s ceremonies aim to acknowledge not only the accomplishments of the students but also the contributions of local leaders to their communities.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Local Colleges Announce 2025 Commencement Speakers
Rhode Island Gears Up for 2025 Graduation Ceremonies
Additional Resources
- Rhode Island Current
- WPRI
- Providence Journal
- Catholic World Report
- AOL News
- Wikipedia: Commencement
- Google Search: Rhode Island College commencement 2025
- Google Scholar: Rhode Island Colleges commencement ceremonies
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Graduation
- Google News: Rhode Island graduation speakers
