Graduates from the Class of 2023 celebrate around campus. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)
Graduates, get ready for Commencement Weekend 2023! Join in an event-filled weekend to honor your academic accomplishments and celebrate with family and friends and the University community.
Syracuse University’s Commencement exercises will be held in the JMA Wireless Dome Sunday, May 14, beginning with the degree candidates’ procession at 9:30 a.m.
Donna E. Shalala G’70, H’87, former U.S. secretary of health and human services, will deliver the keynote address.
School and college convocations and Commencement will also be livestreamed. Visit the Commencement website May 11-14 to view the ceremonies online. The College of Law held its Commencement exercises during a ceremony Friday, May 5.
At Sunday’s Commencement, over 6,000 students are expected to graduate.
Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud will address the graduates and confer degrees. Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter will give the welcome.
The University will award honorary degrees to four distinguished recipients: the late Cerri Banks ’00, G’04, G’06, who served as the University’s vice president and deputy to the senior vice president of student experience; Michael Crow G’85, president of Arizona State University; David R. MacDonald, artist and professor emeritus of ceramics; and Kathleen A. Walters ’73, retired executive vice president of Georgia-Pacific and the first woman to serve as chair of the University Board of Trustees.
Bea González G’04, former vice president for community engagement, special assistant to the chancellor and dean of University College, will serve as mace bearer.
Tadodaho Sidney Hill, of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, will give the ceremonial opening. The Rev. Dr. Brian E. Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, will give the invocation. Ryan McNaughton ’96, president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association, will offer a welcome to the newest alumni.
Representing the Class of 2023, Simone Bellot and Michael “MP” Geiss are the senior class marshals and will lead graduates during the ceremony. Bellot, majoring in communication sciences and disorders and neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences, is originally from Nassau, Bahamas. She is in the Renée Crown University Honors Program. Geiss, a Syracuse, New York native, is in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in policy studies and physics and minoring in biology and economics. He is also a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.
Along with the all-University marshals, 22 student marshals represent the 13 schools and colleges at Syracuse University. The marshals will lead the degree candidates of their respective schools or colleges.
Twelve seniors have been designated as Syracuse University Scholars. This is the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows. University Scholar Chelsea D. Brown was selected as the student speaker on behalf of the Class of 2023.
Retiring faculty members who have been recommended to receive the title of emeritus by the University Senate to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees will be recognized by Jamie L. Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs.
The University Marshal is Shiu-Kai Chin ’75, G’78, G’86, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Associate University Marshal is James K. Duah-Agyeman G’99, director of Multicultural Affairs.
Also during the ceremonies, Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will present the colors.
The Syracuse University Wind Ensemble will perform under the direction of conductor Bradley P. Ethington and Timothy W. Diem.
The national anthem will be sung by Madeline McDermott ’23, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Ben O’Connell ’23, College of Visual and Performing Arts, will sing the alma mater.
Add the Commencement App for easy access to Commencement weekend details and to receive immediate notifications for any changes or updates to events taking place during Commencement weekend.
Continue the celebration on social media: Add to your Instagram stories with digital swag. Search for the latest Syracuse University GIF sticker suite using the keyword “#SUGrad23.”
Graduates can check out programming for new alumni as part of #SUGrad23 SUccess—an exclusive welcome to the Orange alumni family.
Are you a soon-to-be grad or a friend or family member of someone graduating? Mark the milestone with a gift to the General Scholarship Fund and leave a wish by May 12 at 9 a.m. for a chance to see it featured on the JMA Dome’s big screens during Commencement.
More information about Commencement 2023 can be found at commencement.syr.edu.
